The Fastest Breaststroker Over 50: Watch David Guthrie Shatter Records

PHOENIX, Arizona, April 10. DAVID Guthrie showed last weekend that he intends to improve on his runner-up designation in the 2012 Swimming World Magazine list of the World Masters Swimmers of the Year with two national short course yards records.

Though short course yards times are not considered when picking our Masters swimmers of the year, Guthrie showed potential for outstanding long course and short course meters campaigns with fast times at the South Central Zone championships in Austin, Texas.

Click here for a recap of the record-setting weekend.

Guthrie, 52 years old, swam a 2:10.76 in the 200-yard breaststroke, breaking the national record by three seconds and nearly becoming the first swimmer over 50 years old under 2:10. He already has the honor of being the oldest man under 2:10, holding the 45-49 age group record with a 2:08.33.

Memories of Kevin Cordes' 200 breast from the NCAA championships will come to mind when watching Guthrie's 200 breast swim, as Guthrie took only 42 strokes in his race (compared to Cordes' 35).

Video of Guthrie's 200 breast national record (in lane four):

A day later, Guthrie sprinted to a sub-1:00 effort in the 100 breast, becoming the second man behind Jon Blank over 50 years old under the barrier. Guthrie's time of 59.04 marked just his third time under 1:00 in Masters competition, according to the U.S. Masters Swimming database. His last sub-1:00 effort was in 2009 when he posted a 58.51.

Video footage of Guthrie's 100 breast national record (in lane five):

Videos courtesy David Guthrie.

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