Rich Abrahams Blazes 25.87 for 50m Free, Masters World Mark for Men 55-59

ARVADA, Colo., Aug. 5. A little more than a year ago, Masters sprint star Rich Abrahams, Rocky Mountain Masters, underwent shoulder surgery. It kept him from swimming his best when he aged up to the 55-59 division.

It appears the surgery was a success. Swimming this Saturday at the Squid Long Course Masters Challenge in Arvada, Colo., Abrahams, 57, blazed to a 25.87 clocking for 50 meters freestyle. The old US and world mark was 26.33, set for years ago by The Olympic Club's Steve Clark — a triple gold medalist at the 1964 Olympics.

What makes Abrahams' swim even more impressive is he did it on the last day of his training "hell week," two weeks out from USMS nationals.

"My training partner and I did a regular workout during warm up," he told SwimInfo.

There's no telling what Abrahams will do in Cledveland two weeks hence, when he's shaved and tapered.

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