George Corones

George Corones (6 April 1918 – 28 March 2020) was an Australian senior swimmer who broke the world 50 and 100 metres freestyle records for his age group in February/March 2018.[1]

George Corones
Personal information
Full nameGeorge Corones
Nationality Australia
Born(1918-04-06)6 April 1918
Queensland, Australia
Died28 March 2020(2020-03-28) (aged 101)
Sport
SportSwimming
StrokesFreestyle, breaststroke

Born in Charleville, Queensland, of Greek descent, and whose residence is in Albany Creek, Corones gave up swimming before the Second World War, made his career as a medical practitioner, then resumed swimming only after his 80th birthday.

Corones competed at the 2012 World Championships in Italy, with top three finishes in various 90-94 age group events. In February 2013, Corones smashed two world 95-99 class freestyle records at the Masters Swimming Queensland Meet held on the Gold Coast, Queensland.[2]

At the Commonwealth Games trials held at the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre, Queensland, Australia, on 28 February 2018, Corones swam 50 metres in 56.12 seconds, breaking the previous record for 100- to 104-year-olds by 35 seconds, taking the record from Britain's John Harrison who had set a 1:31.19 mark in 2014.[3][4] He also set the world record 100 metre mark at 2:24.21 at the same swim meet, on 3 March 2018.[5] He entered the trials as National and Queensland state record holder for five events - the 25, 50 and 100 metres freestyle and 25 and 50 metres breaststroke - having set those records the previous January.[6]

Corones trained at the Albany Creek Swim Club.[7] He turned 100 in April 2018 and died in March 2020 at the age of 101.[8]

Event Time Date Location
50 m Freestyle56.12 28 February 2018Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
100 m Freestyle2:24.21 3 March 2018Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
Records
Preceded by
John Harrison		 Men's 50-metre freestyle Q100-104
world record-holder
28 February 2018 –		 Succeeded by
incumbent
Preceded by
 Men's 100-metre freestyle Q100-104
world record-holder
3 March 2018 –		 Succeeded by
incumbent

See also

References
  1. At 99, George Corones swam his way to two world records
  2. Sykes, Emma; Begley, Terri (19 February 2013). "95-year-old swimmer: breaking records not hips". ABC Radio Brisbane. Retrieved 8 March 2018.
  3. Zhou, Naaman (8 March 2018). "'In the water you're weightless': the 99-year-old swimmer breaking records". The Guardian.
  4. Martin, Amy-Clare (2 March 2018). "That's swimpressive: 99-year-old smashes world record for 50m freestyle in the pool". Mirror. Retrieved 8 March 2018.
  5. "George Corones did IT - twice!". Masters Swimming Australia. Missing or empty |url= (help)
  6. Roberts, Glenn (30 January 2018). "Special races at Commonwealth Games swimming trials to give man, 99, chance to set world records". news.com. Retrieved 8 March 2018.
  7. Yosufzai, Rashida. "Australian 99-year-old swimmer 'delighted' after smashing world record". SBS News. Retrieved 8 March 2018.
  8. 101 YEAR OLD MASTERS WR HOLDER GEORGE CORONES DIES OF NATURAL CAUSES AT 101


This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.