Thomas Maine, 90, Collects Five Masters World Records In One Month

Photo Courtesy: Diann Bauer via Facebook

Thomas Maine is having a very successful month in the pool, breaking numerous long course world records. After breaking three earlier this month in his hometown of St. Louis, Maine traveled to Nashville for the Spring Chicken Classic over the weekend and set two more in the 90-94 age group.

In the 200 individual medley, Maine became the oldest swimmer under five minutes in the event, and he broke through the barrier in a big way with a 4:35.62. The previous record in the 90-94 age group was 5:02.64 by Japan’s Tokushi Komeda, set in 2004. Maine’s swim also beats the United States Masters Swimming record of 5:08.02, posted last year by Frank Grannis. Last year at the World Masters Championships, Maine won the 200 IM in the 85-89 age group with a 4:34.96.

Thomas Maine 200 IM splits

Butterfly: 1:04.16
Backstroke: 1:13.19
Breaststroke: 1:18.20
Freestyle: 1:00.07

Later in the meet, Maine tackled the 200 breaststroke, and his 5:12.25 managed to beat another Japanese world record, this time a 5:17.47 by Hiromu Yoshimoto. The time also takes down Jurgen Schmidt’s USMS record of 5:53.77, swum last year.

Thomas Maine 200 breast splits

1:14.32
1:19.84 (2:34.16)
1:19.72
1:18.37 (2:38.09)

Maine also went after the three world records he set a few weeks ago in the 400 IM, 100 fly and 200 fly. In the 400 IM in Nashville, Maine’s 9:58.24 fell just a bit short of the 9:56.43 from June 6. His 100 fly time of 2:26.09 just missed his 2:23.56 from earlier in the month, and the 5:19.46 he swam in the 200 fly was just off his world record swim of 5:19.18.

His swims from early June beat three world and national records previously swum in 2003 by Walter Pfeiffer: 2:31.03 in the 100 fly, 5:51.79 in the 200 fly and 11:19.91 in the 400 IM.

Maine also owns the long course Masters world records in the 100 and 200 fly as well as both IMs in the 85-89 age group. Though Maine’s age is 90 years old in the meet program, he officially turns 90 on September 4. FINA rules determine a Masters swimmer’s age for long course meters meets as their age on December 31 of that year.

Full results from the Nashville Aquatic Club Spring Chicken Classic available on Meet Mobile.

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Senan Kilani

8 years ago

Tariq Ahmad Khorma

Mary-Helen Hopkins

8 years ago

Amazing! Keep on keeping on!

Fred Dever

8 years ago

Fantastic!