An incredible Burnham-On-Sea pensioner has again proven that age is no barrier to taking part in sport by setting a new British record this week.
Grenville Cole, 85, took his 4th British Record at the Masters National Swimming Championships in Sheffield.
This was Grenville’s first swim ever over the Short Course distance, and he finished the 100m Breastroke SC race with a British Record time of 2:10.22 in the 85-89 Year Age Group. Remarkably, his time was over nine seconds faster than the previous British record.
Grenville, who trains at Burnham’s Swim and Sports Academy, previously captured the 50m Breastroke Long Course, 100m BR Long Course and 50m BR Short Course British records earlier this year.
“Huge congratulations go to Grenville – we are extremely proud of him,” Sara Cox-Conklin from the Academy said this week.
His accomplishment is all the more remarkable because he only re-started swimming in 2014 after a 68-year gap when his wife and daughter passed away.
He told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “I gave up swimming when I was 15 back in 1946 – the opportunities then were not the same as today even though I loved the sport and was a strong swimmer.”
“There was a 68-year gap before I got back into the pool in 2014.”
“I’d just wondered if I could still swim, and gave it a go. Despite feeling exhausted, the first few times I kept it going and now swim at Burnham Pool three times a week.”
“On one occasion Sara from the Swim and Sports Academy asked whether I’d considered entering the Swimming Masters. I didn’t think I’d have a chance, but said I’d give it a go and haven’t looked back. I love swimming.”
Grenville became European Champion in the 50-metre breastroke at the European Masters, held at the Olympic Pool in London in May.
