Christmas Lights & Masters Swimming: Champion Kirk Clear, EP 298

A special episode to get you in the Christmas spirit! We meet Kirk Clear, a force in U.S. Masters Swimming, an Air Force Veteran and a legend in his Florida community for something entirely different: creating a jaw-dropping, music-synchronized Christmas light display that brings joy to thousands each year. Kirk calls himself a "Crazy Christmas Light Illuminator."

Kirk approaches the holidays the same way he approaches Masters swimming—with discipline, creativity, and a deep commitment to community. While many of us are winding down in December, Kirk is climbing bucket trucks, wrapping 50-foot palm trees in lights, syncing music, hosting snow machines for kids, and raising money for veteran-focused charities—all while still showing up at swim practice four to five days a week. Kirk is a member of the Swim Melbourne Masters.

Recorded on deck at the Fort Lauderdale Aquatic Center during the Fall Classic Short Course Meters Meet, this conversation captures Kirk’s energy, humility, and unmistakable love for both swimming and service.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• How Kirk discovered Masters swimming in his early 20s—and why he’s still all-in 35+ years later
• The national Masters backstroke record he set by embracing change and opportunity
• Why consistency, not excuses, is his approach to training—even after 19 surgeries
• The story behind his legendary Christmas and Fourth of July light shows (and why July is “Christmas season” for him)
• How giving back—to kids, veterans, and the swimming community—fuels his purpose
• Why volunteering is essential to the future of Masters swimming
• A reminder that staying young isn’t about avoiding wear and tear—it’s about doing what you love

Kirk Clear is proof that excellence doesn’t have to be loud—but it can be brilliantly lit. Whether he’s flipping at the wall, mentoring volunteers, or turning his front yard into a Christmas masterpiece, Kirk shows us that passion multiplied by consistency can create something truly unforgettable.

Perfect for the holiday season, this episode is about joy, service, resilience, and finding ways to light the way for others—in the pool and beyond.

🎁 Merry Christmas from Champion’s Mojo—and enjoy this inspiring conversation with Kirk Clear

Email us at HELLO@ChampionsMojo.com. Opinions discussed are not medical advice, please seek a medical professional for your own health concerns.

You can learn more about the Host and Founder of Champions Mojo at www.KellyPalace.com

Chapters

• 0:00 Meet Kirk: Masters And Military
• 1:41 Discovering Masters Swimming
• 2:44 Record-Breaking Backstroker
• 3:39 Training While Volunteering
• 4:52 The Christmas Lights Obsession
• 7:18 Comebacks From Surgery And Career Shifts
• 9:46 Hockey, Cross-Training, And Community
• 12:15 Heroes, History, And Lifelong Learning
• 13:43 A Call For Volunteers