If you needed some New Year motivation, look no further than Christchurch's Noel Saxton - an 87-year-old masters swimmer who's at Jellie Park pools every morning without fail working to a training programme.
"It's very important, because it gives me something to do every day and I enjoy it," said Saxton.
He makes a real morning of it, and especially loves the coffees after swimming upward of two kilometres in the outdoor pool.
"It keeps me fit for all the things I like to do. And all my family are surf lifesavers and swimmers so it's great to be able to keep up with them a little bit," he said.
Fitness is key for Saxton, who has competed at various Masters Games both here and abroad, where he's claimed numerous titles.
Swimming's been his way to keep active through retirement, after dedicating over 50 years to surf lifesaving since being introduced to the sport as a young boy.
"I was born in New Plymouth and I was very, very lucky cause my mother and father would take me swimming every day in a salt water pool that was refreshed every day by the high tide, it was never heated and I'd do that all summer long," said Saxton.
He's now relishing some 'summer temperatures' in Christchurch as he works towards his goal of becoming the fastest nonagenarian - that's those in the 90 to 99 age category.
"If I can keep swimming at the speed I am now for the next two years I should be able to break some New Zealand records," said Saxton.
"Whether I can do that, I don't know... but I think that's the real enjoyment of life, you've got a goal and if you hit it, good - but if you don't, it doesn't matter does it?"
For Saxton it is a great incentive to just keep swimming.
SHARE ME