Anthony Sepie (76), of Christchurch, finished his 15th Lake Hayes Triathlon yesterday in perfect conditions.
Sepie said before the race he had only been competing in triathlons for about 17 years after trying one for the first time in Christchurch.
"It seemed quite interesting. I liked riding a bike, I liked swimming, I wasn't a hell of a keen on running, but you can't have everything.
"They had one in Christchurch run by the Christchurch City Council . . . when I finished I felt that I had do so some more and, after a couple more, I was hopelessly hooked. There are fascinating people involved in triathlon, quite amazing people."
Sepie said he was not a sporty child growing up, due to severe asthma.
"I was very sickly [growing up]. I had two brothers and a father who were always hitting balls around, playing cricket.
"It tends to go as you age . . . when I shook that off . . . it was wonderful to be able to do sport without running out of breath."
While many 76-year-olds may not even even attempt one discipline involved in triathlon, Sepie said he generally competed as an individual, with the exception of January's Challenge Wanaka, where he entered in a team which had a combined age of 230.
"The others are off to Germany this year, but I didn't quite feel up to going all that way on a plane."
The former school teacher did not have a strict training regime.
"I bike when I feel like it, I run when I feel like it, but there's no sort of schedule of "X" number of hours per week."
When asked what his secret was to competing in triathlons at an age when most are enjoying a well-earned retirement, Sepie said it was swimming.
"It may sound quite unusual, but I find swimming particularly [good]. Not only do I feel much better physically, but I feel a great deal better emotionally."
There was also another benefit to entering triathlons at his age.
"Quite often there's no-one else in my age group," he said.
"I'm usually first and last."
The Lake Hayes event was one of his favourites, a "charismatic triathlon" in "beautiful countryside and lovely conditions".
After crossing the finish line, Sepie had not broken a sweat, and was not puffing, but he had a simple explanation.
"Why would you want to hurry around this course?"
