Watson breaks records

Steve Virgen

A little over a year ago, George Watson was told by doctors, his

cholesterol level was too high. That’s when Watson decided to make a

difference in his life. His efforts resulted in record-breaking

proportions.

Watson, 54, a Newport Beach resident, broke three FINA age 55-59

division records in the South West Zone Long Course Meters

Championships, which ended Sunday, at UC Irvine.

“I really stepped it up a notch after the doctors said my

cholesterol was high,” said Watson, who swims for TYR. “I made a goal

to bring it down, which I have done. I started doing triathlons, but

I wasn’t so good at the running. So, I went back into swimming.”

Watson was captain of the swim team at USC in 1969. He put

swimming on hold after college, but seven years ago he started to get

back into it. And, for the past three years, he has been an avid

swimmer.

Watson competed in the 55-59 division since he will be 55 later

this year. He had a busy day on Saturday, when he broke records in

200-and 400-meter freestyles. In the 200, he touched in 2:13.76, and

in the 400, came in at 4:41.12. He also won the 100 backstroke and

the 200 individual medley.

On Sunday, he competed in the 50 and the 100 freestyles before

going on to break the record in the 800 freestyle (8:49.03) later in

the day.

“That wasn’t a good idea,” Watson said of his swims on Sunday. “I

probably should have rested more that day and just went all out in

the 800. But, I was quite pleased. I wasn’t sure I would do break all

three records in two days.”

Watson is a stockbroker who works in Irvine. He and his wife,

Christine, have been married for 30 years.