World class Masters Swimmer Barry Young passes away

New Zealand Masters swimmer and International Masters Swimming Hall of Fame Honouree Barry Young passed away on the morning of December 4^th.

A founding member of the North Shore Masters Swimming Club, Young was the first New Zealander to be inducted into the International Masters Swimming Hall of Fame in 2010.

Young was born in South Africa and as a teenager was a member of the national South African swimming squad before he joined the merchant navy.

It was after his time with the merchant navy that Young moved to New Zealand, where he became a lecturer at the NZ Maritime School, and picked up the sport again, this time as a Master.

In 1984, at the first International Masters Swimming Championships in Christchurch, Young set his first of many Masters swimming world records to come.

During his career he set a total of 45 FINA Masters World Records across both short and long course as well as 130 New Zealand Masters long course and 77 short course records.

Today he still holds six of those world records het set in 2009 and 2010; three in long course and three in short course both in the 200m butterfly and 200m and 400m individual medley in the 70-74 age group.

Young was also recognised in 2002 and 2009 by New Zealand Masters Swimmers as ‘Swimmer of the Year’ and in 2004 and 2009 was named in the world top six male Masters swimmers by Swimming World Magazine.

Young was a well-respected member of the Masters swimming community from his local club to an international level and will be remembered for his passion and enthusiasm for the sport.