The Pan-American Masters Games in Cleveland run through Sunday, July 21.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Ninety-one-year-old Bob Arledge jumped into the pool at the Robert F. Busbey Natatorium Saturday morning for what would be his third Already having earned a gold medal in his primary sport, pole vaulting, earlier in the week, Arledge, of Lebanon, Ohio, was looking to get his second gold medal in swimming.
After crushing the 50-meter backstroke Friday -- completing the race in one minute and five seconds -- Arledge was calm, still and focused, as he floated in the water, ready for the start of the 100-meter backstroke competition. The sound of the horn echoed throughout the natatorium, and the men were off. Though Arledge was the only person in his age group participating, he remained competitive, against the other swimmers, in their 70s and 80s. It’s a chance for him to improve, every time he competes. Hundreds of spectators and swimmers filled the natatorium for the swimming competition, which was held on the second-to-last day of the masters games. Other sports played Saturday included basketball, disc golf, karate and pickleball. Sunday will bring karate, races, pickleball, the Cleveland Celebration 5K and the Farewell Celebration. Arledge, a retired colonel of the Air Force, who started swimming during his time in the military from 1960 to 1964, focused on his form, making it to the end of the pool and back. The crowd cheered him on, with just a few strokes left before his hand hit the wall, finishing the race in two minutes and 33 seconds, according to the “I feel good, I feel energized,” he told cleveland.com after his swim. “I was working on my form and just trying to stay steady, keep a good pace.” Another swimmer, Philipp Mayer, 69, of Lausanne, Switzerland, was shooting video, while Arledge and other men competed. He cheered when Arledge got to the end. This is his first time in a swimming competition for the Pan-American Masters Games, and his first time in Cleveland.“You can think about other things,” he said. “You can escape from the world for a little bit.” Mayer finds Cleveland expressed gratitude for Cleveland’s hospitality during the Games, and he said the city’s residents have been very kind to the international visitors. “Thank you to Cleveland for organizing this, all the volunteers and everyone who made this happen. It’s very nice,” he said. Arledge’s niece, Amy Arledge Shaper, 55, of Chagrin Falls, has been one of his biggest supporters throughout his competitive life. “He was always a good athlete, but it took him until he was 85 to become the best,” she said. “He never gave up. He continues to pursue his dreams.” Bob Arledge has a plethora of medals from all of the competitions he’s participated in, most notably he won the World Masters Athletics in pole vault in 2018, in the 80 to 89 age group. He now has a shoe box full of medals. Swimming is a great sport that exercises your entire body without damage to your joints, he said, adding that he swims at least three to four times a week. Arledge lives at Otterbein SeniorLife. “I remind myself I’m prepared for it, and I try not to overthink it too much,” he said. “Fitness is something everybody needs to be concerned about. Exercise is like medicine, especially if you’re a senior.” Kaylee Remington is the shopping and entertainment commerce reporter and metro reporter for cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer. Read her work If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation.and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our
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