For most swimmers, even swimming back-to-back races is enough to make them cringe. For 65-year old Masters swimmer Diann Uustal, however, that is a challenge worthy of a record. On Thursday at Masters Nationals on the Auburn campus, Uustal won the women’s 65-69 50 breaststroke (42.97) Uustal followed it up with a 3:07.90 in the 200 back that would have cleared the old National Record by five seconds, except that Uustal already broke it in July with a 3:05.
The breaststroke mark had stood since 2005, previously held by Joann Leilich at 43.57.
This brings the total National Records broken up to 25 for a swimmer who’s been active in Masters’ Swimming since the 80’s. Her career was almost derailed in 2009 after a nasty accident ripped her hamstrings clear off of her legs. At that point, it wasn’t clear if she would even be able to walk normal again. Her comeback has been incredible, as she’s not only walked again but is doing things at her age that nobody else has ever done before.
Uustal will have at least three more opportunities to break records in this meet, which runs through Saturday, with the 50 back, 100 back, and 50 free yet to come.