By Katherine Chatfield
Chronic asthmatic Lola Virgin took up swimming at 45 ? now she’s taking out first place.
As Lola Virgin splashes through the water, she can hear the cheers of her family echoing down from the spectator stands.
Ignoring the tightness in her chest, she forces her tired and aching arms to keep going, determined to reach the end of the race no matter how much it hurts.
Finally she touches the end of the pool, struggling for breath as screams of “You’ve won!” reach her from the crowds.
Barely able to believe it, Lola looks up to check her time. It’s true. At the age of 77, she’s won a gold medal in the NSW State Swimming Championships in the 75- to 79-year-old age category.
“I’m very proud of what I’ve achieved,” says the grandmother of 24, and great grandma to 20. “Although, I don’t really understand why everyone makes such a fuss about it.”
Perhaps the reason Lola’s swimming achievements are particularly impressive is because she’s a chronic asthmatic who once found it difficult to catch her breath when simply walking down the street.
“I’d always been frightened of water because I thought I wouldn’t be able to breathe if I swam,” she says. “But one day I had a premonition I was going to become a swimmer. So even though I’d never set foot in the water, I decided I was going to start swimming lessons.”
For the full story, and more super grans, see this week’s Woman’s Day (on sale March 16).
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