'Keep Moving’

CORTLAND — Judy Young turned in record-setting swimming performances earlier this year at the YMCA Masters Nationals in Orlando, Florida.

The 96-year-old Jamestown resident added to her cache of medals last weekend.

Competing in the 95-99 age group at the New York Senior Empire State Games, Young won gold medals in all six of her events, which included the 50-yard backstroke, the 100-yard backstroke, the 200-yard backstroke, the 50-yard freestyle, the 100-yard freestyle and the 500-yard freestyle.

Meanwhile, Young’s Jamestown YMCA Masters teammate, Karen Williams, claimed a gold medal, four silver medals and a bronze medal in her six events (the 50-yard freestyle, the 100-yard freestyle, the 50-yard butterfly, the 50-yard breast stroke, the 50-yard backstroke and the 100-yard individual medley) in the 60-64 age group.

Young’s and Williams’ efforts qualified both to compete in the 2023 National Senior Games.

“Keep moving,” was Young’s advice when asked her secret to a long and healthy life.

It certainly worked at Cortland where she not only beat the single competitor in her age group, but she also outswam competitors in the younger age categories.

Young, who set YMCA age-group records in six of the seven events she entered in Orlando in April, was recently featured in the magic5.com Explore Community/The Journal blog, which includes a video shoot at the Jamestown YMCA last month.

Williams, who is also a swim instructor, believes that, “Bliss is just a swim away.”