WINNIPEG – Jaring Timmerman, who was the oldest person to compete in a Masters swimming competition, died earlier today at the age of 105. He held four Masters world records, including two in the 105-109 age group.
At one point Timmerman held four short course meters world records in the 100-104 age group in the 50 and 100 freestyles as well as the 50 and 100 backstrokes. He swam times of 1:16.92 in the 50 free, 3:02.22 in the 100 free, 1:45.59 in the 50 back and 3:51.54 in the 100 back in spring 2009 at 100 years old. His backstroke records were broken earlier this year.
In January, Timmerman took advantage of the FINA rule that set a person’s competition age as of December 31 of that year and became the first 105-year-old Masters swimmer in history at the Catherine Kerr Short Course Meters Pentathlon. Competing a month before his actual 105th birthday, Timmerman recorded short course meters times of 3:09.55 in the 50 back and 2:52.48 in the 50 free.
Though Timmerman became internationally known once he turned 100, he had been a Canadian Masters national record holder for nearly 20 years before that, according to an article in the Winnipeg Free Press.
Michael Phelps Schmichael Phelps.
THIS guy is swimmer of the millennia!
RIP.
This is one bad ass dude! Thanks for being such a great example and trailblazer Sir! RIP!