At 80 years old, Barry Shepherd from South Ruislip is proving that age is just a number at Northolt Leisure Centre. Despite his age, Barry swims three to four times a week and even cycles or runs to the pool for his morning session, where he completes nearly an hour of front crawl.
Barry has been swimming for an impressive 57 years, and his dedication to health and fitness has never wavered. He believes that staying active is essential for living longer, maintaining good health, and feeling better overall.
In addition to his regular swimming routine, Barry has an impressive athletic history that includes judo, triathlons, swimathons, and canoe racing. His commitment to fitness has made him a member of Northolt Leisure Centre since 2013.
Barry’s story has been featured by Everyone Active as part of their Age is Just a Number campaign, which aims to promote active lifestyles among seniors and challenge age-related stereotypes. Phil Edwards, Everyone Active’s contract manager, commended Barry for embodying the spirit of the campaign and demonstrating that staying active is not only possible at any age but also incredibly rewarding.
Barry’s advice for those looking to start exercising later in life is to take it slow and gradually build up their fitness levels. He warns against doing too much too quickly, as it can lead to discouragement.
Everyone Active is offering a variety of activities designed for older adults across its 230 centres nationwide as part of the campaign. The initiative, which launched on October 5 to coincide with Silver Sunday, encourages seniors to try new activities or engage in simple weekly exercises.
If you’re interested in following Barry’s example and joining a senior session near you, you can sign up through Everyone Active and even have the chance to win a six-month adult membership. Everyone Active manages 10 leisure sites in partnership with Ealing, so there are plenty of opportunities to get active and stay healthy regardless of your age.