NARASHINO, JAPAN – As the world’s best swimmers prepare for the Rio Olympics, a vivacious Japanese centenarian swears she will still be breaking records at the 2020 Tokyo Games.
Mieko Nagaoka, who is approaching her 102nd birthday, has notched up a spate of jaw-dropping world bests in her age bracket despite just starting up swimming in her late eighties, but she cautions she is not done yet.
“I’m fit as a fiddle,” Nagaoka told AFP after winning the 400m freestyle in 26 minutes, 16.81 seconds at a Japan Masters Swimming Association tournament in Chiba, on Tokyo’s outskirts.
“The key is to eat healthy and exercise regularly.” It’s not good for me to sit around at my age. “I want to swim until I’m 105 — and beyond,” added the Yamaguchi native, who has witnessed 22 Olympics to far.
Nagaoka, who swam the race backstroke while wearing a white hat and a stunning black and gold costume, finished more than 17 minutes behind the winner, Etsuko Azumi, 80.
Nagaoka, who is hard of hearing, did not hear the excitement of the audience after finishing the eight-lap race and attempted to return for a ninth before being hauled out by judges as concerned doctors looked on.
“It was simply another race,” Nagaoka said as she changed into a pink jacket and matching headgear.
“I adore swimming because it makes me happy,” she continued. “I’m in my own little universe while I’m swimming.”
Nagaoka, along with 105-year-old sprinter Hidekichi Miyazaki, is blazing a trail for Japan’s turbo-charged elderly in a country with one of the world’s longest life expectancies.
Nonetheless, Nagaoka’s timing was well outside her two-year-old world record of 16:36.80.
Her competitors had long dried off and were conversing on the pool’s edge when Nagaoka finally touched to deafening cheers. But she maintained a belligerent demeanour.
“I want to keep swimming as fast as I can,” said Nagaoka, who holds world records in nine races in the women’s 100-104 age group, including the 1,500m freestyle – a distance most people her age would struggle to walk.
“I’ll keep going as long as I’m still alive.”
Nagaoka’s boisterous enthusiasm for life continues to surprise her family and instructors, despite the fact that she was born just days after the commencement of World War I, when Japan fought on the side of the allies.
“Her attitude toward life is completely outrageous,” her 76-year-old son Hiroyuki stated.
“She refuses to follow the rules of life.” She only eats the best stuff and avoids anything that doesn’t appeal to her.
“You’re meant to slow down as you grow older, but she was becoming faster as she got older, smashing record after record,” he continued.
“The key to her long life is that sense of joy and purpose in life.”
Nagaoka continues to practise three times a week in Yamaguchi, south-west Japan, with long-time instructor Shintaro Sawada.
“At first I thought she was joking about swimming till she was 100, but she was dead serious,” said Sawada, 41.
“I’ve never encountered someone like her – she eats and sleeps whenever she wants.” She has a great resolve and a stubborn streak.”
The younger Nagaoka was beaming with delight as he sat next his mother.
“She’s incredible,” Hiroyuki added. “She’s still quite keen mentally.” She’s the best mother in the world!” AFP
