Australian masters swimmer inducted into international hall of fame

The swimmer said he has made many memories across the globe.

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, and even breaks his own. Now his hard work is being recognised globally. or signup to continue reading The 87-year-old from Bowral in NSW is being inducted into the Masters International Swimming Hall of Fame (MISHOF) as part of the 2024 cohort, as an Honour Masters Swimmer.

He is being inducted alongside four three other swimmers from the United States (US) and Japan, one German diver, an artistic swimmer from Canada, an Australian water polo player, and a contributing swimmer from the USA. "It's very exciting," he said, and specialised in breaststroke. It is a division of the International Hall of Fame, and recognises Masters; who are swimmers above the age of 18.



Over a 30-year period, he has accumulated more than 20 world, 180 national and 250 state records. His journey began competitively as a teenager, specialising in breaststroke, and then he stopped swimming at 20, and took up cricket instead. The swimmer then returned to the pool 35 years later, and has competed in World Masters in Japan, New Zealand, Russia, Hungary, South Korea, Canada, Australia, the US and Qatar.

The camaraderie with other swimmers and teams was a highlight throughout his swimming journey, he said. "You meet all sorts of people and it's a lot of fun," he said. His wife Cush used to travel overseas with Goodwin to cheer him on and after she passed, the swimmer said he lost the motivation to compete.

It was not until his son told him he, his sister and her partner would become his support crew, that he decided to dive back in in 2023, at 85. At the Masters World Championships in Japan, he won four gold medals, for the 50 metre, 100 metre, and 200 metre breaststroke races, and the 200 metre individual medley. The breaststroke medals were for world records.

"We had a ball, we really enjoyed the time," he said. He swims and trains in the Moss Vale War Memorial Aquatic Centre six times a week, and is a member of the Manly Masters Swimming Club. Other accolades of his include being named the .

A date for the induction is yet to be confirmed. I like to write about arts, entertainment, any local reality tv leads, and property for the Southern Highland News and Goulburn Post, but also report on everything in between. If you have any tips, please send them to Briannah.

[email protected], or call 0439142204.

I like to write about arts, entertainment, any local reality tv leads, and property for the Southern Highland News and Goulburn Post, but also report on everything in between. If you have any tips, please send them to Briannah.Devlin@austcommunitymedia.

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