Golden oldie Ted makes waves

Friday 7th November 2008, 1:15PM GMT.

Shropshire swimmer Ted Hoy has been making a big splash – at the age of 80.

Ted from Ellesmere, who trains with the Shrewsbury Masters Club, won five gold medals at the National Short Course Masters Championships at Ponds Forge in Sheffield.

Swimming in the 80-84-year-old age group, Hoy won the 50m backstroke, 100m individual medley, and 100m, 200m and 800m freestyle events.

His time of 16.08.22 in the 800m was just one second outside the national record.

Coach Phill Cowell said it was a fantastic achievement by Hoy. “Ted is a real inspiration to all the other swimmers at Shrewsbury. To see him go out and perform the way he does at the age of 80 is a real example for others to follow.”