Meet the ripped 76-year-old who is still smashing swimming records – and feels as good as he did in his 20s.<br /><br />Ex-British team swimmer Gordon Black got back in the pool at the age of 55 for rehab following a collarbone injury.<br /><br />He quickly rediscovered his love for the sport and took the Canadian 100 metre freestyle record for his age category – aged 55.<br /><br />Gordon moved to Bordeaux, France, with his wife, Barbara Black, 70, a copy editor, and continued to beat records.<br /><br />In April this year he beat the French National Masters swim record for 50 metre freestyle and is in the World Aquatics top ten for his age.<br /><br />Gordon, an author, originally from Aberdeen, Scotland said: “I broke my collarbone and went back in the pool.<br /><br />“It doesn’t take a lot of exercise to make a lot of difference. I feel good every day. I feel the same as I always have.”<br /><br />Gordon started swimming for Britain team aged 20 and competed for five years – and was a finalist in the 1966 British Empire and Commonwealth Games.<br /><br />He then ditched the swimming due to low pay and moved to Canada, working various office jobs before becoming an equestrian coach.<br /><br />He said: "I left swimming because I had to make a living."<br /><br />Gordon thought he had left his swimming days behind him before he found himself back in the pool to help with a collarbone injury aged 55.<br /><br />He said: “I then thought I might as well go to a competition. I got the 100m freestyle record aged 55 – it was one minute and two seconds.”<br /><br />Gordon moved to France in 2004 and continued to swim – and heads to the pool two to three times a week, preferring front crawl.<br /><br />He said: “It must have a good impact on my wellbeing. I don’t eat processed meat. I have lots of veggies.”<br /><br />Gordon doesn’t stick to a strict regime but feels his swimming keeps him in shape.<br /><br />He spends his days writing romance and comedy novels.<br /><br />He said: “The lifeguards are very respectful. They say this is the kind of shape they hope to be in when they are my age.”<br /><br />Gordon ranked fifth on the Fina World Top Ten Masters 75 to 79 50metres Freestyle, and eighth for 50 metres Breaststroke in 2022.<br /><br />He hopes to smash another record later this month and rank higher – for the 50 metre freestyle.<br /><br />He said: “I like competing. I like to win.”<br /><br />Gordon said he feels like he did in his 20s and hopes to keep up the swimming for as long as he can.<br /><br />He said: “I still feel 20. Dangerously so. I hope to keep going.”
