100-year-old Swimmer Backstrokes to World Record in Japan
MATSUYAMA, Japan, April 6 (UPI) — A 100-year-old Japanese swimmer set a world record by becoming the first person over a century old to complete a 1,500-meter swim in a 25-meter pool.
The Japan Masters Swimming Association confirmed Mieko Nagaoka, 100, performed the backstroke at an event in Matsuyama and swam 1,500 meters — 4,921 feet — in 1 hour, 15 minutes and 54 seconds to become the first person over the age of 100 to complete a swim in the category.
Nagaoka was the only person to compete in the event’s 100-104 age bracket. Officials said her time will be submitted to Guinness World Records.
The swimmer, who took up the sport at the age of 82, previously set a world record by swimming the same distance in a pool measuring 50 meters, or 164 feet. She also holds age class records for various distances of freestyle and backstroke swimming.
“I feel relieved that I could complete swimming 1,500 meters. But I will still continue swimming ahead,” Nagaoka told CNN, with her son translating.
Her son, Hiroki Nagaoka, said he was proud of his mother’s accomplishments.
“She is some woman,” he said. “The world first means no one has done it. It was awesome that my mother has challenged and accomplished her goal at her age. She still uses her brain and tries to figure out the best way to swim, she still even tries to change her swimming form to challenge for a record. I’m really proud of her.”
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