By Ellen Anderson.
THE Masters Swimming Australia Long Course State Championships took place at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre in Albert Park on last Sunday. Among the remarkable competitors was Ararat’s own Wilfred Dickeson.
The former Richmond footballer has in recent years rekindled his passion for swimming, and as he nears 81 he’s still winning.
Competing in the 80-84 age bracket, Wilf’s determination secured gold medals in both the 50m freestyle and backstroke events.
His outstanding times of 46.13 seconds in the freestyle and 1:07:42 in the backstroke surpassed even his own personal best from the previous year, where he triumphed with a time of 51 seconds in the freestyle.
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Wilf credits his success to his rigorous training regimen, emphasising the crucial role played by the Ararat Rural City Council in keeping the outdoor pool open to the public until just days before the competition.
“That allowed me to train up until last Friday which was great,” he said.
He dedicated countless early mornings to training, hitting the pool at 7am daily in preparation for the championship.
Reflecting on his achievements, Wilf remains determined to defy expectations and continue improving.
“You don’t expect to get older and swim faster, but I’m going to try, I’m going to continue,” he said.
Wilf’s dedication and spirit serve as a testament to the power of passion and perseverance at any age.