Stasia Kowalski, 92, uses a cane to walk but doesn’t need one in the pool. The Louisville resident competed in her first meet Saturday, setting best times for her age bracket in the 50-meter and 100-meter backstroke and competing in a medley relay. Kowalski didn’t learn to swim until she was almost 40 because she was afraid of the water. Now, she swims two or three times a week in the summertime, usually completing 15 laps, or 30 lengths, of the pool.
Mary Graves, the general manager of Lakeside Swim Club and deck coach for the Lakeside Masters Swim Team, called Kowalski inspiring. Kowalski’s 4:08.80 time for the 100-meter backstroke bested the 90-94 age bracket’s previous record set in August 2002, of 4:19.03.
She also set an age bracket best time with her 1:45.57 in the 50-meter backstroke. The previous record in that event was 1:54.35, set in August 2003. As for next year, Kowalski said she hopes to compete if she’s able. In addition to swimming, Kowalski enjoys gourmet cooking, morning yoga and showing off her “wicked” Scrabble skills.
Since she joined a Thursday afternoon game, more and more people have shown up to play and now there are often three tables going at once.
welcometothejl on August 2nd, 2017 at 09:55 UTC »
Next year she'll race a shark for Shark Week.
kziv on August 2nd, 2017 at 09:45 UTC »
My Masters team (Sarasota Sharks) just recently set some world USMS age group records at a regional meet. 4 of them were by one woman in the 90-94 bracket.
I hope to be like her when I grow up!
oscarveli on August 2nd, 2017 at 08:42 UTC »
She didn't learn how to swim until she was about 40, so I guess there's still hope for me too.