Makiko Maemoto is known at Grossmont as a dedicated Japanese instructor. However, outside her role as a professor, Maemoto is also a competitive swimmer in the World Aquatics Master Championships. 

Raised in Japan, Maemoto said she developed a passion for swimming as a form of exercise. She continued it later in life casually, but as she pursued success, she became more competitive.

In 2018, Maemoto moved to San Diego to train for swimming and compete in local competitions. Along the way, one of her acquaintances introduced her to the World Aquatics Master Championships, an event that includes swimmers 25 or older competing with others across various countries. Maemoto’s first-ever advanced competition was in 2023 in Fukuoka, Japan. 

She said her most significant achievement was placing in the 2025 Singapore event. Although she said she was excited for the races, she admitted to being nervous; however, everyone was supportive of one another. The races she did were tiring, and her lower body was sore, which led to some doubt, according to Maemoto. However, she told herself to focus on her race and not on other swimmers. 

Maemoto finished 14th in the 400-meter individual medley (IM) race, in which the swimmer uses all four competitive strokes for 100 meters, for her age group. She also placed 22nd in the 100-meter butterfly and 27th in the 200-meter IM for the age group 45-49. Maemoto said placing 14th made her proud to participate. 

For her regular training, Maemoto practices early in the morning, typically from 6 to 7 a.m., before teaching Japanese classes. Although she said she feels nervous during her training sessions, she always has fun and, by the end, feels good. Her motivation is to practice while enjoying the process. 

Maemoto’s goal is to compete in Budapest, Hungary, in 2027.