A 75-year-old Turangi man who suffered a heart attack part-way through a challenge to swim 50km over three months didn't let that stop him from achieving his goal.
Paul Fletcher was one of 17 Turangi residents who swam at least 50km this spring after taking on the Margaret Sweeney Challenge at Turangi's Turtle Pools. Named after the first woman to swim the 50km distance from Stump Bay, Turangi to Taupo in the 1950s, the annual challenge aims to see people swim 50km over three months. Participants this year ranged from 12 years old to men and women in their 70s.
Mr Fletcher registered for the challenge with friends Margaret Gamble, 74, and Maryke Wilson, 70, who met as neighbours 35 years ago. In October, he suffered a heart attack and could not swim for two weeks, but with a little help from his friends he was soon back in the water and on the road to recovery.
"I still managed to finish it," Mr Fletcher said. "We all come to the pools twice a week and we just signed up for it. Once you start you've got to finish, don't you?" He finished with just half a day before the deadline on October 24.
Turangi pool supervisor Suzanne Watson said over 50 people signed up for the challenge and all came out of it with a positive swimming experience.
"Patronage really picks up, even if participants don't necessarily finish," she said. "One of the main reasons we run this challenge is to see friends and families swimming together. It brings people together in a great environment that fosters good health and fitness."
The challenge kicked off on July 25 and included two categories. Elite swimmers aimed to complete 50km by October 10, and novice swimmers will aim to complete the task individually or in a group by a combination of running, jogging or swimming the distance by October 24. A tally board was kept at reception at the Turtle Pools, where participants crossed off their kilometres as they progressed.
