Happily Crossing Centurion, 104 Year Old Woman Explains How Her Swimming Passion Keeps Her Sane

The Life Time Dumbo country club in Brooklyn, New York, witnessed a lifetime dedication. The Dedication towards a healthy life, towards living happily. Here comes Vivian Levy who completed 104 years this July. When you hear this number, do not draw the picture of a frail and helpless entity living at the mercy of others. Rather, this woman is defying logic by spending some time in the swimming pool every single day without fail.

But isn’t it difficult to keep oneself motivated every other day? There can be days when one may feel low. Levy sends the ball outside the stadium when one asks this. She is prompt to reply that she has never felt like staying away from swimming.

Age no bar while swimming

Every morning, Levy reaches the gym at Life Time Dumbo. The lady then indulges in the ‘love of her life’, swimming for about 45 minutes, according to a report by today.com. During these sessions, she mostly performs backstroke. And her fellow swimmers are often of the age of her grandchildren or even great-grandchildren, maybe. But the lady is undeterred. She carries on with slow but steady strokes.

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Levy was born in 1919. And her friendship with water started at the tender age of six. As years passed by, the boding only grew stronger. “It’s good practice. And I just enjoy it. I like the water,” Levy told today.com. So strong is the liking that she is never tired of swimming. “Every day I get up and go swimming,” Levy said. “I always feel like it. … I’ve played sports my whole life.”

Truly Levy is a sports enthusiast. During her heydays, alongside swimming, she found pleasure in hiking, cycling and even walking. She also used to play tennis and volleyball. This tryst with sports has kept her agile and alert throughout. She was living alone until the age of 102. She still uses an iPhone. And she used to drive until the astonishing age of 90.

Sports nurture both body and mind, says the centenarian

It is no secret that swimming is one of the best whole-body exercises. Research has linked regular swimming to living a long and healthy life. However that is not all. Levy pointed out that it is refreshing for the mind as well. “You also get to know people through sport. Wherever I go swimming, I’ve made friends”, she said.

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Levy believes her busy body and mind is the key to her long life. The retired school teacher describes herself as a Socially and physically active person. Still, she makes new contacts in her neighborhood. Even at this age, she is a foodie, but with moderation. She has a sweet tooth, too. To provide nourishment to her brain, she is into reading and puzzle-solving.

Last but not least, life comes to a full circle for Levy, with a satisfying family life. She has had a married life of half a century. To spend time with her spouse, she retired early from her job. But there is always darkness under the light. During her long journey, Levy has to bear the loss of her husband and a daughter. But she keeps moving through her century-old path. The path toward a better life, happily and actively.

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