An Israeli swimmer has shared his tips on how to stay fit into old age after winning three gold medals at this year’s Maccabiah Games, often dubbed the ‘Jewish Olympics’, at the age of 93.
Izhak Zak, who represents aquatics club Maccabi Olam Hamaim, swam in three events, bringing home gold in the 90-94 age category in all of them.
He completed the 50 metre freestyle and 100 metre backstroke as the only competitor in the category, swimming the races in times of 01:32.49 and 02:43.00.
But in the 50 metre backstroke, he was taken to the wire by Amnon Ramon, who is one year his junior and represents the Greater Jerusalem Swimming Club.
Zak beat his competitor by just nine seconds, finishing in a time of 01:11.04 compared to Ramon’s 01:20.23.
Speaking to the JC after the second of his three medals, Zak shared that his secret to his remarkable longevity and shape is to “practise daily” and do “lots of walking”.
His daughter added that he has six shoeboxes full of medals and a room full of trophies at his home, accumulated since he began swimming competitively in 1953.
Zak was born in 1933 in Tel Aviv. His first appearance at the Maccabiah Games was in 1950, just the third time the event was held.
His competition debut was in boxing as, before his pivot to swimming, he was a champion boxer in the IDF.
This time around, 76 years and 19 Games later, he is still making waves as one of the most inspirational and impressive competitors at the event.
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