On a swim and a prayer
We’ve heard of the flying nun…but the floating nun? Senior state swim champ Eileen McCarthy (right), a 75-year-old Catholic nun from Marshfield, has won a spot in the 2009 Summer National Senior Games next August in San Francisco. McCarthy backstroked past her opponents at a recent state qualifying meet, winning the 50-, 100- and 200-meter races in her age category. She’s swum nationally before, placing 10th and 12th; next year, her goal is eighth. McCarthy, who took up swimming after arthritis curtailed her jogging habit, insisted in a recent statement she has no “illusions of medals.” (At least, of gold, silver or bronze variety.) Her competitors are mostly lifelong, elite swimmers with coaches, and until 1999 she was a mere beach bather, she said.
Meredith Goldstein contributed to this report.