An incredible Burnham-On-Sea pensioner is celebrating this week after proving that age is no barrier to success by breaking a British swimming record.
Grenville Cole, 90, set a new record in the 90-94 year age group at the National Masters Swimming Championships at Sheffield’s Ponds Forge International Sports Centre last weekend.
Grenville, who trains at Burnham’s Swim and Sports Academy, broke the British record in his age category for the 50-metre breast stroke by a huge 4.7 seconds, beating the previous record that had been in place since 2004.
“His ability to remain fit and positive over the course of the last year and a half is inspiring to say the least,” Sara Cox-Conklin from the Academy told Burnham-On-Sea.com.
”He is an inspiration to everyone at the Academy and we all send him our congratulations!”
Grenville’s 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!”
In 2016, Burnham-On-Sea.com reported here how he become European Champion in the 50-metre breast stroke at the European Masters.
