Douglas Sayles

Member 2009 – Present


  • 2024 - USMS Ted Haartz Staff Appreciation Award recipient

  • 2023-Present – LMSC Development Committee (Chair 2024-Present)

  • 2023 - USMS Dorothy Donnelly Service Award recipient

  • 2023 - NELMSC Distinguished Service Award recipient

  • 2020-2022 – USMS Legislation Committee

  • 2013, 2020-2021 - USMS Membership Committee

  • 2021-Present - USMS Colonies Zone Chair

  • 2019-2021 - USMS Colonies Zone Vice Chair

  • 2019- USMS Governance Committee

  • 2012-2015, 2019-Present - NELMSC Membership Coordinator

  • 2015-2019 - NELMSC Chair

  • 2016 - NELMSC Contributor of the Year recipient

  • USMS Certified Coach – Level 1, 2 & 3

  • USMS Adult Learn to Swim Instructor

  • USMS Top Ten Achievements – 5 Individual

USMS Profile

Douglas Sayles is a dedicated leader in the Masters Swimming community whose passion for building inclusive swimming communities has helped countless others discover the lifelong benefits of swimming. 

Douglas joined U.S. Masters Swimming in 2009 and was first elected to the New England LMSC Board of Directors in 2012 as Registrar. He later served as Board Chair and Membership Coordinator and filled interim roles including Vice Chair, Open Water Chair, and Secretary. He has also led and contributed to special committees addressing grievances, COVID-19 relief, and championship event planning.

As an event director and organizer, Douglas has helped reinstate the annual Colonies Zone and NELMSC championship meets following the COVID-19 pandemic, establish new traditions like the New England College Club & Masters Swimming Meet, and coordinate the biennial USMS Boston Education Weekend. He also directs Swim Across America’s Rhode Island Open Water Swim — an 800-swimmer charity event that funds cancer research — and has helped plan and promote several other charity swim events.

Douglas is a member of SwimRI and New England Masters Swim Club and is a USMS-certified Level 3 coach and Adult Learn-To-Swim instructor and member of the American Swimming Coaches Association. He has coached workouts, organized swim clinics, fostered a unified SwimRI identity across venues, and coordinated many team-building swim and social events, such as the Stuffies vs. Steamers Meet, Hour Swim Heats, Friday Night Swim Fights, SwimRI Soiree, and Columbus Day 5K Ocean Swim.

At the national level, Douglas has served as Colonies Zone Chair, chaired the LMSC Development Committee since 2023, and previously served on the Legislation, Registration, and Governance committees. He has presented at and helped plan the USMS Volunteer Relay, attended Leadership Summits, and since 2012 been a member of the USMS House of Delegates.

Douglas has received several honors and awards recognizing his commitment to strengthening the Masters Swimming community and delivering impactful programs through strategic, mission-driven leadership: He is a 2025 “Contributor” inductee into the New LMSC Hall of Fame and has received the USMS Ted Haartz Staff Appreciation Award (2024), USMS Dorothy Donnelly Service Award (2023), NELMSC Distinguished Service Award (2023), and NELMSC Contributor of the Year Award (2016).

To view Douglas Sayles’ swimming CV, click here.