Jane Asher, a 95-year-old great-grandmother, is defying age by continuing to break swimming world records. The swimmer from Merton Park, South London, has recently added five age group world records to her already impressive collection.
Asher’s dedication to swimming has earned her a British Empire Medal and a place in the International Swimming Hall of Fame.
Asher’s Secret to Longevity: A Love of Swimming
Looking back on her career, which includes 26 gold medals, Asher credits her love of the water for her good health and happiness. She believes that swimming keeps you healthy.
Asher has witnessed the positive impact of swimming on others, including those recovering from surgery, noting that doctors were amazed by their improvement.
She hopes to inspire others to embrace the sport, highlighting the fun and sense of accomplishment that comes with hard work.
From Zambia to World Records: Asher’s Swimming Journey
Born in Zambia, Asher spent her childhood in Johannesburg, where her English mother taught her to swim. Her passion for swimming grew at boarding school, where she was allowed to use the pool on her own in the mornings, mostly doing the backstroke.
Throughout her life, Asher has consistently joined local swim teams, wherever she has lived.
She even joined a rowing club simply to be in the water.
Family, Career, and a Lifelong Dedication to the Water
Asher is a grandmother of 11 and a great-grandmother of six. After her husband, a vet named Robbie, had an accident, Asher took a job teaching swimming at the local school to help with the family bills.
Asher recalls that her mother was addicted to water and taught to swim in the sea in Cornwall. She remembers spending all of their free time jumping in and out of the water and that she took to it quite quickly.
Asher remembers one of her first races when a girl commented on her powerful kick, attributing it to her mother’s presence. Now every time she has a backstroke race, she thinks, ‘Mom is up there watching.’
Asher wants to show people how good you feel when you work hard at something.