Olds Rapids Swim Club head coach Graeme Gordon is thrilled with his performance in the 15th FINA (International Swimming Federation) World Masters Championships which took place July 27-August 10 in Montreal.Gordon, 35, says he's now ranked in the top three in Canada in three categories in his age group (35-39). He's No. 1 in the country in the 100 (metre) backstroke, No. 2 in the 50 backstroke and ranked third nationally in the 200 backstroke.He was ranked first in the 50 backstroke for about two minutes before another swimmer beat his time.He also vaulted a long way in some world rankings: for example, from 82nd in the world to 43rd in the world in the 50 fly, and from 44th place to 17th in the 200 IM (individual medley).It's the first time Gordon has competed at an international level. He decided to start swimming competitively again after a seven-year absence from the sport as a way to help out his team.During an interview with the Olds Albertan, Gordon described his accomplishment in Montreal as “nothing short of phenomenal.”“I had no solid expectations coming here. I never expected that I would place so well and swim as fast as I have,” he says.Gordon qualified for the meet after breaking a club record for the Rapids in the 50-metre backstroke event for ages 17 and over at the Lethbridge Spring Invitational swim meet in May.He says his times in Montreal are faster than he posted in a meet in Red Deer in early June.“I put everything I had into it. I just had that desire for a little bit more,” Gordon says.He says he'd like to keep doing Masters swim competitions.“I'm hooked, I am absolutely hooked,” he says.The speed of the swims and the fact you're competing against some of the best in the world in your category is part of the attraction, but so are nerves.“When your heat number is getting closer and closer it's just an indescribable feeling. Just the knowledge that you're going to give it your all, no matter what and whatever the results to be satisfied that you've left nothing back,” Gordon says.However, there are some factors that may prevent him from competing at a really high level for a while.“I've got two jobs, two kids and a wife and another kid on the way,” he says.Also, the next international Masters competition takes place next year in Russia.“I don't have the money to go and I'm not too sure about my safety in Russia,” Gordon says.Three years from now the internationals Masters will take place in Guadalajara, Mexico. Many parts of that country are now perceived by some to be unsafe, due to drug-related violence, although it's not clear if Guadalajara falls into that category.“It becomes a little bit of an issue when it's in places like that,” Gordon says.If he can though, Gordon would like to keep competing in Masters swim meets as long as he can.“I know some people who started in their mid-70s. Now they're in their mid-80s and they're still at it, winning silver medals, gold medals. It's just great to see that they're still active,” he says.“There's a video that's gone viral of a 90-year-old,” Gordon adds. “He dove off a 10-metre tower.”Gordon says unfortunately, he didn't have the money to take his family with him to see him swim. However, he did have time to tour Montreal himself.“I've been everywhere,” he says. “After the first couple of days my knees started getting pretty sore just from all the walking. I've never been out here.”He says those sore knees didn't affect his swim times though.“Not at all,” he says. “I've been at it long enough I know how to warm up properly and I know how to cope with things like this.”
