This release is courtesy of Barbara Hummel / GoSwim:
WHITE RIVER JUNCTION, Vermont, October 26. Fritz Bedford of New Hampshire became the fastest backstroker in the world over age 50 last weekend, setting two world records at the 5th Annual UVAC Leaf Peepers Masters Meet.
Bedford, who turned 50 in September, swam a 59.91 in the 100-meter (short-course-meters) backstroke, breaking the world record by one one-hundredth of a second and becoming only the second swimmer over age 50 to break the magic one-minute barrier in this event.
Roughly 90 minutes later, Bedford clocked 27.39 for the 50-meter backstroke to eclipse the existing world mark of 27.66. Bedford was unchallenged in his record-breaking swims, which took place at a half-day mini meet hosted by his masters team, the UVRays (part of New England Masters). Bedford followed up his backstroke swims with a 26.54 in the 50-meter butterfly (an event where he was world recorder holder in the 45-49 age group), moving him to Top 5 in the world in that event in the 50-54 age group. He finished the meet with a 28.23 50-meter backstroke as lead-off swimmer on his team’s 200 Medley Relay.
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Congratulations, Barbara! Successful both as a coach and a swimmer!!!