Kerala’s 76-year-old swimmer targets world record in Japan

The Story in Brief

Kerala’s Kurian Jacob, 76, is preparing to chase a world record in the 75-80 age category at the upcoming World Masters Games in Japan. Jacob returned to India in 2017 after working overseas in banking and began competitive swimming in 2019, aged 67. He had swum since childhood but had never entered a competition.

Jacob has since won international medals, including nine at the World Masters Games in Taiwan, with two golds, three silvers and four bronzes. He also won five medals at a 2023 Masters meet in Finland. Jacob told Hindustan Times that he trains to keep improving, while acknowledging that breaking the record may be difficult.

The Indian Opinion

The lazy claim that age alone determines sporting potential is disproved by Jacob’s record. But the opposite exaggeration, that motivation can replace structured training, is just as unhelpful. His progress followed years of swimming, technique work and recovery from injury, not slogans about wellness. The Japan result will offer a fair test: can he convert ambition into a record in the 75-80 category?

Source: hindustantimes.com

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