96-Year-Old Athlete Inspires Swim Arena

Meet showcases athletes like Tang, who help redefine what is possible in later life

- Deepanraj Ganesan

For nearly five minutes, Taiwanese swimmer Tang Cheng-yao commanded the attention of an entire arena at the World Aquatics Masters Championships.

On Aug 10, about 150 competitors, officials, family and friends were on their feet at the WCH Arena, the cheers and applause thunderous as they shouted words of encouragement to the 96-year-old swimmer as she splashed her way to the finish of the 200m freestyle.

Partially blind in her right eye and deaf in her left ear, the nonagenarian was the oldest female competitor at the July 26-Aug 22 championships.

She was the only swimmer in the 50m and 200m freestyle and the 50m, 100m and 200m breaststroke events (95-99 age group), and even set a championship record of 12 minutes 54.04 seconds in the 200m breaststroke on Aug 12.

But records are not what Tang aims for, as being in the pool gives her happiness and keeps the doctor away.