South London Great-Grandmother, 95, Shatters Swimming World Records
Meet Jane Asher, a remarkable 95-year-old great-grandmother from Merton Park in South London, who continues to dominate the swimming world by breaking age group records. Recently, she secured five new world records, adding to her already staggering collection of over 100 achievements. This swimming legend, a grandmother of 11 and great-grandmother of six, has been honored with a British Empire Medal for her dedication to the sport and holds a place in the International Swimming Hall of Fame.
A Lifetime of Aquatic Excellence
Reflecting on her illustrious career, which includes 26 gold medals, Jane attributes her good health and happiness to her love of the water. "It does keep you healthy," she said. "I have taught people who just had surgery, and their doctors were amazed by how much they improved because of swimming. I want to show people what a lot of fun you can have if you like competing and how good you feel when you work hard at something."
Jane emphasizes the importance of sport, noting that swimming helps build muscle and opens new worlds. "Sport is very important, and quite a lot of youngsters now have put on weight. Swimming doesn't help you lose weight, but it finds the muscles. It opened a whole new world for me. It made me happy and healthy."
From Childhood to Competitive Swimming
Born in Zambia, South Africa, Jane spent most of her childhood in Johannesburg, where her English mother taught her to swim. Her obsession with swimming grew at boarding school, where she was allowed to use the pool alone in the mornings, primarily practicing backstroke. Despite moving frequently, she always joined local swimming teams and even once joined a rowing club just to stay in the water.
After marrying a vet named Robbie, Jane took up teaching swimming at a local school to help with bills when he had an accident at work. "My mum was taught to swim in the sea in Cornwall, and she was addicted to water. We spent all our free time just jumping in and out of the water. I took to it quite quickly," she recalled.
During her school years, competitions were scarce due to the war, but she swam every morning to expend energy. "In my first race, a girl said that I kicked like hell. It was because my mother was watching. Now every time I have a backstroke race, I think 'mum is up there watching.'"
Mastering Masters Competitions
Transitioning to teaching adults, Jane began entering masters swimming competitions at age 50 and had broken 100 records by the time she turned 80. Her first European record came in an 800m race at Crystal Palace—after attending a wedding where she had a few drinks. She competes in various races, with the individual medley, involving backstroke, breaststroke, front crawl, and butterfly, being her favorite.
Swimming has also provided emotional support. "When my husband died, I started filling the time, but it was hard because there is this big hole in your life. But swimming has given me such good friends, and they give back to me. All of my kids are very sporty, and I am very proud of them, and I didn't realise that they are proud of me," she shared.
Advice for Future Generations
Jane stresses the value of friendship and staying active. "Without friends, life doesn't happen. There is always somebody pushing you on. I think that is what keeps me going—somebody waiting for me. I couldn't do half of what I have done without the friends who have helped me enter. You have to do everything online now. As you get to 95, everything goes so quickly, and you get slower."
For younger generations, she advises keeping active and swimming to maintain health. To be a good swimmer, she recommends learning to relax and finding a good teacher. "It is a really good non-contact sport. You can't hurt yourself. Running hurts your knees and your hips, and even tennis causes shoulder problems. I had a good kick with very strong legs and a strong buttocks."
She compares swimming to meditation, highlighting relaxation as key. "It is good to have something to think about. It is a bit like meditation. That is the secret, of course—you must not stiffen up because then you go down like a stone."
No Signs of Slowing Down
Jane has no plans to slow down, currently preparing for her next competition and another potential world record in Budapest. Her story is a testament to lifelong dedication, resilience, and the joy of swimming.
