Masters Spotlight: Jean Troy Continues to Smash Records at 80

By Emily Sampl

BOULDER, Colorado, December 20. MOST 80 year-old women don't swim 2,500 yards, four days a week. They probably don't go to swim meets either, unless it's to watch their grandchildren. And, they certainly don't break a dozen world records. Jean Troy is a rare exception.

Troy, who swims for Florida Maverick Masters in St. Petersburg, has been on a world-record tear in the past eight months. Since March, she's set 12 world records in all. Troy currently holds the world record for women ages 80-84 in the 100 through 1500 free and 100, 200 and 400 IM in short course meters. In long course, she owns records in the 100, 200 and 400 free and 200 and 400 IM, all of which she established in June. Her latest world records, in the 400 free and 400 IM, came in November at the Bridge the Bay SCM Masters meet held in Sarasota.

Troy says breaking world records continues to be one of her biggest motivations in swimming.

"The records don't last very long, so I have to get them while I can," she said. "I train very hard throughout the year with specific events in mind. When I go to a swim meet, I only swim the events that I want to break a record in."

She still has nearly four years left in her age group, but once she turns 85, Jean plans to take down those records as well. That shouldn't be too much of a problem, considering there are always a handful of meets to choose from that are close by.

"Here in Florida, there are frequently meets in our area, so you never have to go far to find a swim meet," she said.

A lot has changed in the sport of swimming since Troy first started Masters 35 years ago, but that hasn't prevented her from improving or tweaking her own technique.

"When I came to Florida, that was really the first time I'd had a coach," she said. "Paul Hutinger, my coach now, has introduced a lot of little technique things that have helped me increase my speed."

Even a slight increase in speed will surely propel Jean Troy to many more world records in the future.

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