Check out that bright-eyed, spunky lady in the photo attached below. That's Anne Dunivin, matriarch of my swim team, Georgia Masters Killer Whales, at the age of 95. And, on October 17, she will turn 96!
Up until recently, when she took a fall in a "Cardio Blast" class and fractured her femur, she was swimming for 40 minutes, twice per week. She told me today that she would like to go more often, but she doesn't drive anymore and relies on rides to the pool. (I'll fix that...). She still lives alone, though.
Today, I went to visit her at Emory's rehab facility where she will stay another couple of weeks before being released to outpatient rehab. She had hip surgery following her fall and recently had her 32 staples removed. So, she is well on her way to healing.
This is one amazing woman! She keeps wondering why she has lived so long. But, she has been extremely healthy and fortunate to have only been in the hospital to give birth to her three children. As she said to me today, she is quite comfortable, has no aches or pains, and is having "fun" being 95 and outliving her competition! :D
Anne absolutely adores swimming and can't wait to get back to the pool. Her eyes lit up when I told her that Steve Lundquist Aquatic Center now has a chair lift for disabled swimmers! If Anne has her way, she will compete in the SCM meet at Georgia Tech, on December 15. After all, she has more records to break and has every intention of doing so...
Not knowing that USMS offered the opportunity to compete as an aging adult, Anne only recently started competing. As she related to me, "The 90+ year old ladies in my age group from California, Maine, Florida, and I-can't-remember- where-else probably weren't too happy when Anne Dunivin came on to the swimming scene!" But, she left them behind when she aged up and now she is tickled that she has outlived all her competition. :banana:
What an inspiration! Anne is still as sharp mentally and strong physically as most people I know who are twenty years younger. And, she is a hoot!
I learned that Anne's favorite treat is chocolate shakes. Her daughter emphasized "small" when I asked if I could bring Anne one, however, I decided to pick up two mediums, instead; one for me and one for Anne. (What the heck; ya gotta live a little! :D) And, I can tell you, she sucked her shake dry! :chug:
Anne is the poster Geezer for how to age well, age happily, and age gracefully. I think she has earned a place on the cover of AARP Magazine- or, at least Swimmer Magazine! :bliss:As a baby geezer who competed in my first Geezer Games (aka Senior Games) with Queen Geezer Anne, it was an honor to compete in the same pool with such an amazing woman. (Smart, too; she earned her B.A. in Chemistry, from Emory University, in 1938, and her Masters, in 1940.)
Anne, I want to grow up to be just like you! :agree:
she earned her B.A. in Chemistry, from Emory University, in 1938, and her Masters, in 1940.
Now we are getting to the real fount of her success. I'm sure that Chris will second me on this;)
Wow! That is just wonderful!
Did she swim in meets asa 95 year old? I'm guessing taht if you can do the distance, world recoreds are not out of reach.
She sure did! She is an All-Star as a 95 year old with 11 #1 times. She swam at Georgia Tech, last April, and in Greensboro, at Nationals. She also swam at Athens, for a long course meet, in June. The attached photo was taken of the two of us at that meet. Doesn't she just sparkle? :D
The Geezer Games photo was taken of the two of us last April, so she was 95 then, as well. But, that meet doesn't count for USMS.
As for doing the distance, she swam the 1,000 at the Georgia Tech meet, last April, as well as at Nationals. She swam the 500 at Nationals, as well. :bow:
On the World level, there is a Japanese woman who I believe is 101 years old. Believe me; Anne has her sights on those records! :banana:
So glad to hear she is doing so well! She is a delightful lady, who lights up the room wherever she is. What an example she is setting! I'll have to come to St. Nick's simply to cheer her on!
Thanks for the update here and on Facebook, Elaine!
Amazing. Do you know when she started swimming? Was she a good swimmer from youth, or picked up swimming later in life? (reply in a darker font color would be appreciated :cool:)
(Also, is there a video of her swimming to share?)
This is Anne at the end of the 200yd Free at Greensboro Nationals:
http://youtu.be/K4G6IT55VDQ
And, here she is at the end of 200m Backstroke at Auburn Nationals, in 2011:
http://youtu.be/9sISYW0Hylk
Anne swam for fitness and recreation as a child and young adult. But, her three children, job, and husband left her with little time for the pool, so she kept fit in other ways that didn't require as much time. After her husband died, in 1992, Anne decided it was time to do things just for her, so she returned to swimming quite actively. A few years ago, however, she had to give up driving, so she now relies on friends and family to get her to the pool.
Anne had never competed until our team relay coordinator for in-state meets, Walter Leen, recruited her to the Georgia Masters Killer Whales. He picks her up on Thursdays and takes her to swim with him. And, he keeps a close eye on records to see what records Anne has a shot of making. He taught her backstroke and tried to teach her breaststroke, but she can't get the kick legal, so those records will remain unattainable for her. And, she can't clear her arms on fly, so that is out, as well.
Sorry to disappoint you on the font, but blue is my favorite color. :banana: And, much to the dismay of a few fellow Forumites, I will not ever change my font- that is, unless my color and style options are removed from the choice list. :D
Not to take anything away from Anne (who is quite the inspiration for all of us folks at the opposite end of the age-group spectrum), but she's actually not the matriarch of USMS. Marie Kelleher from VMST is 99 years old, and became the first women in the history of USMS to compete in the 100-104 age group (it was a SCM meet this past spring, so the age up date is 12/31). And is also very much an inspiration. :)
Ooops! I will edit my post. :blush:
...Hey, for that matter, at 95 years old, she is the matriarch of USMS! And, on October 17, she will turn 96!...
Not to take anything away from Anne (who is quite the inspiration for all of us folks at the opposite end of the age-group spectrum), but she's actually not the matriarch of USMS. Marie Kelleher from VMST is 99 years old, and became the first women in the history of USMS to compete in the 100-104 age group (it was a SCM meet this past spring, so the age up date is 12/31). And is also very much an inspiration. :)
