80-year-old Arthur's swimming success
An 80-year-old swimmer from Shipston is celebrating after walking away with a string of medals at the recent European Masters Swimming Championships.
Arthur Lowe, from Shipston, competed in the championships at the Olympic swimming pool in London over the recent Bank Holiday Weekend.
The masters championships are aimed at those over the age of 25 and Arthur competed in the 80-85 years age category.
Arthur scooped three gold medals in the championships, wining in the 50m freestyle, 100m freestyle and 50m medley relay under a combined age of 320, in which the group set a new world record.
He also gained a silver medal in the 50m backstroke.
With a life-long passion for swimming Arthur is no stranger to masters championships having previously competed around the world in Canada, New Zealand, California, Sweden, Brazil and the UK since 1987.
It has not all be plain sailing for Arthur though who in November 2014 underwent a quadruple heart bypass at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham.
If that wasn’t enough of an obstacle, he was also involved in a head-on traffic collision on the Foss Way last year, though luckily escaped significant injuries.
Arthur said: “After my heart operation I thought it would be impossible to keep going, it was such a strain to keep training, but I was determined to stay active. When I was in hospital the doctor said I would never compete again at a world class level.
“When I was down there at the weekend the atmosphere was fantastic, I think there were around 9,000 other competitors taking part. You could hear the crowd as the 90-95-year-olds were competing and I would like to think that will be me in a few years’ time, I don’t think I will ever stop.
“I have a personal desire to keep going, I don’t want to just give up and sit on the sofa. I have been swimming most of my life and I train down at the swimming pool in Shipston.”
Arthur said the support of his wife and manager Marion has always been important.
Marion is the town crier of Shipston and when she competes at various championships, Arthur acts as her manager.
