Masters Spotlight: Richard Todd Swims, Sings Way Into Record Books

By Emily Sampl

BOULDER, Colorado, November 25. BREAKING a world record is a once-in-a-lifetime experience only a handful of swimmers can say they've accomplished. Richard ‘Dick' Todd of Tuolumne County Aquatic Masters (TCAM) in California has already experienced the thrill twice this season. At the Pacific Masters SCM Championships held in October in Walnut Creek, Calif., Todd eclipsed the world marks in the men's 65-69 division in the 100m (1:20.71) and 200m (2:59.11) breaststroke. After setting five national Masters records earlier in the year, he knew he had a shot, but was still pleasantly surprised.

"I started looking at SCM in Walnut Creek in October and realized from previous times that I was a second or two away from a couple of world records in the breaststroke," he said. "When I looked up at the timing board at the end of those races and saw my times, I was over the moon!"

Those were the first world records for Todd, who began his Masters career in a unique setting. While living on a sailboat off the coast of Auckland, New Zealand in 1990, Dick and his wife walked from the Marina to the city each morning to swim for the Togs Masters swim team. After moving from New Zealand to California in 1999, he joined TCAM and has been there ever since. Despite his recent success, Todd says his main priority in swimming has always been fitness.

"Fitness for longevity is the main motivation. If you don't use it you lose it, but I don't over train. I'm only putting in around 3,200 yards per day in a one-hour session," he said.

Staying fit isn't the only thing keeping Dick Todd busy these days. He currently operates a one-man land surveying business, and sings and plays a five-string banjo in a group called Coyote Hill. They have regular gigs, and even have their own CD.

As Todd continues to sing and swim, he'll keep his sights set on the 2008 World Championships in Perth and, hopefully, more world records and another CD.

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