Linda MacPherson just turned 86 years old.
For her, it’s just a number as her desire to continue to make a splash in the pool remains strong and has not waned.
The Parksville swimmer achieved another milestone recently, when she collected five gold medals at the 2023 Canadian Masters Championships in Calgary.
MacPherson competed in the women’s 85-89 age group freestyle events and not only did she garner top finishes in all five races she entered, she also set new Canadian records in her age group.
She was first in the 50-metre freestyle in a time of 45.14 seconds, 100 free (1:39.09), 200 free (3:37.10), 400 free (7:42.77) and 800 free (15:46.65).
“It was my target to win all five events,” said MacPherson, who indicated she prepared well for the national meet, training at Ravensong Aquatic Centre in Qualicum Beach three to four times a week and going to the gym twice a week.
“We do approximately two-and-a-half to three kilometres workout in an hour. We hit the water at six in the morning. There are six of us. We do a pretty good workout.”
MacPherson said she started swimming when she was still a baby and has been a competitive swimmer all her life. She has done extremely well in provincial, national and international masters events.
“It’s very stressful but I love it,” said MacPherson. “It keeps me in good shape and gets me going. I have no plans of giving it up. No. I don’t want to do that.”
What motivates her more to continue competing is not only the health and social benefits she gets from it, but also the new records and milestones that she achieves.
“It’s a goal,” said MacPherson. “So I go for them. There’s also things like the FINA (International Swimming Federation) rankings. I was ranked in the top 10 in the world. Before COVID I was ranked one and two in a number of events. So, that’s also a goal is to try and maintain those sort of things too. That’s my stress factor.”
How serious is she?
“You should talk to my husband about it. You don’t talk to me for about two weeks before a meet because I am kind of edgy,” she said.
And when she achieves her goal, MacPherson said it makes all the work and sacrifices truly worthwhile.
“It’s happy time,” said MacPherson. “It makes me feel good. Satisfying, I guess is a good word.”
MacPherson wants to compete in the international masters competition but is not able to due to the high cost associated with travelling to the events.
“This year they’re in Japan and it just doesn’t compute in our situation,” said MacPherson. “It does get expensive. They’re not cheap.”
Aside from swimming, MacPherson does other activities like walking. She is proof of the benefits an active lifestyle can have on the qualify of your life even at a later age. She strongly encourages everyone to do their best to live an active lifestyle.
“They should,” said MacPherson. “Anybody, whatever age, if they can get out and get going, I think it should be a priority. No matter what it is, whatever activity.”
