Life after Reuters - Derek Parr, still a swimming record breaker at 80

Derek Parr, a stalwart of the Reuters sports desk for 19 of his 33 years with the company, has turned into a record-breaking swimming machine since he returned to London from his last posting abroad in 1988.

Specialising in the 200 metres butterfly, one of the sport’s toughest events, he won his first Masters British title in 1991, his first European in 1999 and his first world in 2004.

Since then, he has broken one world record, 16 Europeans and an extraordinary 95 British records. Now 80, he is still at it, winning five more titles at the GB Masters event this month.

Derek, who joined Reuters in 1968, retired in 2001 but continued to cover swimming for the agency through to the 2008 Olympics.

At The Baron’s request, this is Derek’s account of a stepped-up post-Reuters swimming career that might make most other retirees breathless just reading about it.

“I’ve been involved in Masters swimming for the best part of 40 years after taking the sport up again when I returned to London in 1988 from my last Reuters posting, as Sports Correspondent in Paris. I previously swam at school and university but, after that, work somehow got in the way.

Organised in five-year age bands, starting at 25-29, Masters competition offers a rare compensation for growing older, or “ageing up” as they call it. Entering each new age group gives you a fresh chance to break records.The opportunity to compete also provides an incentive to train. I do that three times a week, mostly in Barnet, North London, with my local club, Broomfield Park SC. I also swim for the London club, Otter, where I’ve been a member for more than 60 years.

I won my first British title in Leeds in 1991, my first European title in Innsbruck in 1999 and my first world title in 2004 in Riccione, Italy. Each was in the 200m butterfly.

Over the years I have won 18 World Masters medals (four gold) and 18 European Masters medals (seven gold). I’ve broken one world, 16 European and 95 British records. My world record, set in 2009 in the 65-69 age group in the 200m butterfly (2:47.60), stood for six years.

My tally of British titles now runs to over 220 in the two annual national championships (50m long-course and 25m short-course pools), plus around 60 more in relays.

It should, however, be acknowledged that numbers dwindle in the more ancient reaches of Masters and there are times when I may be the only one in my particular age group in some races, my events tending to be at the more knackering end of the spectrum – butterfly, individual medley and distance freestyle.

Last year I entered the 80-84 years group and won three golds and two silvers at the European Masters in Belgrade in the summer, following four silver medals at the World Masters in Doha earlier in the year. I broke four British records at the GB Masters (long-course) and six British records and one European (100m butterfly, now my best event) at the Swim England Nationals (short-course). In all, I set 25 GB/1 European records in 2024, plus 6 British/1 European in relays. I picked up five more individual titles at the GB Masters at the London Aquatics Centre (2012 Olympic pool) this month.

Nonetheless, it’s not all about the medals and the records. It wouldn’t be so much fun without the friendship and camaraderie of my club-mates and of fellow swimmers and friendly rivals I’ve known for years at championships at home and abroad. I enjoy the training sessions for the fitness and health benefits they bring. I always come away feeling a bit of a buzz, even if an early training session seems less of a good idea when the alarm goes off to turf me out of bed on a dark Sunday winter morning.

I was lucky to combine my love of swimming with work and covered the aquatic sports at eight of my 10 Summer Olympics for Reuters and at the 2012 and 2016 Olympics for the International Swimming Federation magazine. Lucky, indeed, just to be involved in sport for Reuters. It took me to dozens of countries, covering dozens of sports, including seven football World Cups and seven Winter Olympics.

“They pay you for that?” friends used to ask.

Here I should say a big thank-you to my wife, Claire, who shouldered the added burden at home caused by my globe-trotting for work and my own time-consuming swimming pursuit.

So, how long can all this churning out the lengths in the pool go on? Well, there are Masters world records in the 105-109 age category. I happened to meet the Canadian who set them. He started to swim competitively aged 79. So, I’m barely an Old Master. It depends on your luck in ageing, on health and on wanting and being able to keep swimming, even though your times inevitably get slower. My Mum lived to 109, so no excuses. Better get back in the water."

Editor's Note: Derek's story is the first in what we hope will be an occasional series on life after Reuters. If you have a good story to tell, please get in touch through the contact form. 

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