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George Corones

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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

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

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

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 Freestyle 56.12 28 February 2018 Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
100 m Freestyle 2:24.21 3 March 2018 Gold 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

[edit]

References

[edit]
  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. {{cite web}}: 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