Any platitudes about age and wisdom and what 100 year olds can or cannot do fail when describing what Australian swimmer George Corones has accomplished. Corones became the first 100+ year-old swimmer to go under 1 minute in the 50 short course meter freestyle last weekend, breaking the World Record by more than 21 seconds.
This is not Corones’ first World Record in the more elevated age groups of masters swimming, but it is his first since turning 100 in April. After diving in to start the race, a feat which is noteworthy for a man of his age in-and-of-itself, Corones swam a 55.75. The old World Record was a 1:16.92 done by Jaring Timmerman in 2009.
That 55.75 actually undercut Corones’ 95-99 age group record of 56.12 done in 2018. He’s still dropping time at 100 years old.
Corones also swam a 2:19.02 in the 100 free at the meet in Brisbane, where he was 10 years older than the next-closest competitor. Full results can be seen here (the results platform only allows for 2 digit ages, so Corones’ times are listed under the “10 year olds” classification).
Watch a video of the record-breaking swim from Masters Swimming Queensland below:
https://www.facebook.com/MastersSwimmingQueensland/videos/2085881514817306/
That is so incredible. I wish I could meet the man. I hope Speedo or others would help him out. So, so great to see this type of thing.
How about the 44 y/o that was 54 in the 100? That’s fast
Been to a million masters meets. Around age 75, lots of very good men swimmers start getting the wobbles on the blocks, if they can make it up there at all. His strength, balance, and coordination to do a racing start at his age is more remarkable to me than the swim.
“Still dropping time at 100 years old.”
… the heroes of the sport extend beyond the big names.
Sub 55 incoming
The dressel of masters swimming?
Awesome!!! How about a money handicapped match race in the 50m race against Dressel? A charity event where the winner gets to donate $1,000,000 to his favorite charity and the 2nd place finisher donates $100,000 to his charity of choice. We can get corporate sponsors for the prize money and do a made for TV event during a commercial break during another sporting event??? Congratulations to George the Rocket!!!
Wtf