The 87-year-old plunged into swimming after her husband, Alf, died in 1988.
"He wasn't well for a long time and when he died I did my travelling and decided to learn to swim," she said at the St Clair Hot Salt Water Pool yesterday.
"I'm an Aquarius and I've always loved the water. But when I was at school, you didn't have swimming lessons, so I didn't know how to swim properly. I could only do overarm. It took ages to get my breathing right. I tell the young swimmers who come here that I was nearly 70 before I could breathe properly," she said
"A couple of years ago, I got a lymphoma and had to miss a couple of seasons. When I came back, I could only do four lengths, but I'm back up to eight to 10 lengths now. I used to be able to do 25 to 30.
"Swimming has been very beneficial for me. I think that's why I recovered so well from the lymphoma. It's been part of my therapy."
Dunedin City Council community pools closed yesterday for the winter break.
"We're very lucky to have this salt pool here.I don't think there's another one in New Zealand.
I was talking to someone the other day from England and he thought it was absolutely wonderful," Mrs Leppingwell said.
"I'm very lucky to be able to do what I can at my age. I come three days a week now. I used to come every day.
"It's the companionship, too. I've made some very good friends here. It's a good place to hear the news."
However, Mrs Leppingwell said she wouldn't be counting the days until her favourite pool reopened.
"Winter soon goes by and my winters are quite busy. That's when I play bowls at Forbury Park and visit all the friends I neglect when I'm here."
