|
JARING TIMMERMAN: 100 year old swimmer – holder of four world records in his age group. While wintering in Arizona in 1989, Jaring Timmerman entered a state-level swimming competition called the Senior Olympics. He was then 80 and this was his first race ever in a sanctioned event. Jaring did very well—winning the 200 metres freestyle.
He then began to focus on swimming, joining the Masters Swim Club and seeking out coaches at the pool at Arizona State University. During the past 20 years he’s competed in national and world Masters Events in the USA, Canada, Copenhagen and Munich. In 2009, at the Manitoba Masters Championships and the Canadian Masters Championships, Jaring set four world records for his age group in the free style and backstroke.
Jaring doesn’t drink or smoke, and trains every day of the week except Sunday. He calls his secret to a long, healthy life “GEDS” (Genes, Exercise, Diet and a Good Spirit), which he says works beautifully.
Jaring doesn’t plan to ever stop swimming. Paul Boulding, the head of Masters Manitoba, says, “Jaring has been touched, somebody up there is saying, ‘Hey, keep going.’”
|
