The present study aimed to analyze the progression of speed and variability in the 100m and 200m freestyle events across different age groups in master swimming competitions. A total of 379 race times were obtained from a national master competition, with 230 from male participants and 149 from female participants. The swimming speed was calculated for each event and age group, and coefficients of variation were determined to interpret the variability across different age ranges. The results showed a general and expected trend of decreasing average swimming speed with increasing age in both distances and sexes. However, the decrease in speed was less noticeable in the 200m freestyle event. In fact, in the female category, the speed in the 200m event was sometimes higher than in the 100m event, indicating a lack of competitive level in certain age groups for the latter event. The coefficients of variation also showed an increasing trend with age, suggesting greater competitive variability as participants get older. This variability appeared to be higher in females than in males, indicating potential challenges in bringing together female swimmers of similar competitive levels in the same age group. This study serves as a starting point for a broader reflection on Portuguese master swimming and aims to stimulate the implementation of future strategies to improve this competitive space.