75-Year-Old Swimmer Smashes 4 World Records in One Day

At 75, Laura Val stepped up to the starting blocks at a Las Vegas pool and reminded the world what determination looks like across a lifetime.

On January 17th, Val competed in her first short-course meet in the 75-79 age group and shattered four World Aquatics Masters World Records in one day. She didn't just edge past the old marks—she demolished them by seconds, swimming faster than competitors decades younger in the mixed events.

Val's fastest swim came in the 50-meter backstroke, where she clocked 35.71 seconds, obliterating the previous record of 38.04. In the 50-meter freestyle, she touched the wall at 30.95 seconds, beating a record set just two and a half months earlier by more than two seconds.

Her 100-meter backstroke time of 1:18.19 crushed a 2025 record by over five seconds. She capped the day by breaking the 100-meter freestyle record, swimming 1:09.53 compared to the old mark of 1:11.92.

This wasn't beginner's luck. Val started swimming at age 10 and became a Junior Olympic National Champion two years later. After earning her nursing degree from San Diego State University in 1972, she took a break from competitive swimming.

At 37, she joined a masters team just to stay in shape. One year later, she competed at the U.S. Masters National Championships and broke six national records, launching what would become one of the most decorated careers in swimming history.

Why This Inspires

Val has now broken over 430 world records since 1987 and holds 72 U.S. Masters National Records across different pool lengths. She's been inducted into both the International Swimming Hall of Fame and the Masters International Swimming Hall of Fame, cementing her legacy as one of the greatest masters swimmers ever.

Her longest-standing record, set in 2008 in the 200-meter butterfly, still stands today nearly 18 years later. She's also a 47-time individual Masters All-Star with more than 1,000 individual All-American honors.

Val's success shows what happens when passion meets persistence. She didn't peak in her youth and fade away—she kept improving, kept competing, and kept rewriting what's possible at every age.

What started as a simple workout routine 38 years ago became a masterclass in lifelong excellence, proving the finish line keeps moving when you refuse to quit.