A 100-year-old Japanese woman has taken knee rehab to the extreme – going from a newbie swimmer at age 82 to making a splash as the world’s first centenarian to complete a 1,500-meter backstroke in a 25-meter pool.
“I want to swim until I turn 105 if I can live that long,” Mieko Nagaoka told Kyodo News.
Nagaoka accomplished the pool feat Saturday in just under an hour and 16 minutes as the only competitor in the 100-104-year-old category in Matsuyama, western Japan.
Her time in the Japan Masters Swimming Association event is expected to be recognized by Guinness World Records.
The Tabuse resident, who began swimming to rehab her hurt knee, last year completed a 1,500-meter swim in a 50-meter pool in the freestyle category, the Japan Times reported.
Last year, the plucky swimmer published a book titled, “I’m 100 Years Old and the World’s Best Active Swimmer.” Her latest accomplishment means she will hold records in 25 aquatic events, according to the International Swimming Federation.
Nagaoka made her first appearance in 2002 in the masters worlds meet in New Zealand, where she took the bronze in the 50-meter backstroke, IBN Live reported. Two years later, she won three silvers in Italy – in the 50-, 100- and 200-meter backstroke.
At age 90, she set a national record in Japan for her favorite event, the 800-meter freestyle, before really going serious – taking private lessons with a coach.
She now trains four times a week while strongly urging others to swim as long as possible.
“She is some woman. The world first means no one has done it. It was awesome that my mother has challenged and accomplished her goal at her age,” said her son, Hiroki Nagaoka, CNN reported.
“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.”
With Post Wire Services