Courtesy of VASA, a SwimSwam Partner.
David Lawson with VASA Founder and CEO Rob Sleamaker.
Meet David Lawson, a 93-year-old athlete and health advocate from the USA who’s living proof that a daily regimen of healthy eating, fitness & a positive attitude is the best happiness and anti-aging program around. Lawson happens to be one of our favorite people and Vasa enthusiast. Recently, Vasa founder and CEO, Rob Sleamaker, had the privilege to speak with David when he visited us at Vasa HQ in Vermont. (WATCH THE VIDEO BELOW.)
Rob Sleamaker: David, you’re the picture of health and vitality…what’s your formula?
David Lawson: Four things: genetics, nutrition, exercise, being physically, mentally, and emotionally involved on a daily basis.
RS: You’ve told me before about your WWII experience in the US Air Force and I remember you telling me about promising to your maker that you would live a happy-go-lucky life if you ever got home safe and sound.
DL: Yes exactly, I was happy-go-lucky before I joined the military and I got happy-go-lucky coming out, and I’m still happy-go-lucky.
RS: I know you exercise every day. What’s your typical exercise routine?
DL: Every morning, I exercise for 33 minutes on a Vasa Trainer (doing a Butterfly pull) for 900 repetitions up and down. That takes about 33 minutes to complete. Then I either run or swim everyday for about an hour to an hour and a half. Also, I hit a speed bag (boxing) for 1000 strikes every day.
RS: You’ve had Vasa Trainers at home and at your Villa in Barbados for how long?
DL: I have a Vasa Trainer at home right outside of my bedroom and I have a Vasa Trainer in Barbados at my villa. I’ve had them for almost 20 years. It’s one of the greatest pieces of exercise equipment available today.
RS: So how does the Vasa Trainer fit into your overall fitness routine?
DL: It’s a major part of the fitness routine. I do that every day religiously, whether I’m at home or in the West Indies.
RS: What would be the single best advice you’d give other that are seeking health, fitness, happiness?
DL: Well, I think what you have to have is discipline. And I thank being in sports for discipline. And I say to myself every day ‘nothing tastes as good as being healthy and fit’. And I say to myself also the most important thing I have in life is health and family.
RS: You were an athlete in high school and college and masters swimming right?
DL: I was an athlete in high school, college, the masters swim program, and in the Senior Olympics. I swam for University of Michigan.At the Masters Senior Olympics, I won 9 medals, in every event I won a medal.
RS: What would be the single best piece of advice you’ve received in life?
DL: Take care of yourself, nobody else will.
RS: How would you define success?
DL: Well success is a mental thing. Success is being happy with what you’re doing, achieving at what you’re doing, and helping people.
RS: You’re 93 now, what are your goals for the next 5 years?
DL: To do what I’m doing now… working out every day, having a good family life, taking care of myself, my wife, and my children. I have 4 children; they run from age 26 to age 63. The last one was born when I was 67, and I’m ready for a couple more (laughs).
In the video below, 93-year old masters swimmer & Senior Olympic Athlete, David Lawson, explains how he used the Vasa Trainer as a central part of his total fitness program to live a long, healthy and successful life! His positive attitude is inspirational and will motivate you to follow his simple formula to increase your longevity by improving your health & diet, increasing your physical and mental fitness to live a happier, more productive life. Watch the full interview here:
We want to thank David Lawson for sharing his secrets of success and his experience using Vasa Trainers for over 20 years. He truly is an inspiration and we appreciate and share his lifelong approach to health, fitness and happiness.
About VASA
Since 1988, Vasa has produced premium quality training equipment for sports, fitness and rehabilitation. For decades, Olympic-level swimmers, swim coaches, triathletes, triathlon coaches, and dry land conditioning coaches worldwide have selected the Vasa Trainer and Vasa Ergometer to dramatically improve performance for swimmers, surfers, paddlers, skiers, triathletes and those seeking total-body fitness.
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Awesome!!!
Good interview and very wise words, He sets the bar
That’s a go blue right there
Is the the same David Lawson who lived in Washington DC in the mid 60’s? I believe he went to Ohio State.