It will probably take you longer to read this article than it took Brazilian Anton Karl Biedermann to win the 50-meter backstroke race at the Masters’ State Winter Championship. On August 24th in Caxias do Sul (RS), the athlete broke the sport’s world record in the 100+ category by swimming the lap in 1 minute and 9 seconds. Just a few days later, on September 22nd, he turned 100.

Anton started swimming at age 12, inspired by his favorite actor, Johnny Weissmuller, who was the lead in “Tarzan” and a great swimmer before becoming an actor. This happened when Anton’s family moved from Rio Grande (RS), where there was no swimming pool, to Guaratinguetá (SP). Anton’s mother – who started swimming at the age of 94 – enrolled her son in the sport.

When he was 17, Anton joined the Grêmio Náutico União, in Porto Alegre (RS). He has swum for the club to this day. He has won several medals throughout the years  but chose not to take up the sport professionally. Instead, he pursued a career in business. According to the athlete, swimming has always been just a hobby.

Although he leads an active life, Anton has heart problems and diabetes. His health condition, however, has not prevented him from keeping an athlete’s routine: he has two hours of swim practice and weight lifts for an hour every single day.

Anton says if not for sports, he probably would not have reached his current age.

Sources: Metro, Exame, Estadão, and O Globo

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