Never too old to set a world record: 4 Melbourne women in their 80s, 90s, set relay mark

Four elderly women — the youngest aged 84 — were honored on Friday by an Australian state government for setting an age-group world record for a medley relay swim.

A week after the London Olympics ended, 84-year-old Hazel Gillbee, 97-year-old Clarise Artis — who started swimming backstroke at the age of 86 — Trudy Bullivant, 90, and Nancy Ayres, 89, set the new record in Melbourne.

Victorian state government officials said their time of 5 minutes, 45 seconds on Aug. 19 set a world mark in the 4x50-meter relay.

Victorian Governor Alex Chernov hosted the women for afternoon tea at Government House on Friday in recognition of their feat.

Gillbee said, "it's a bit of inspiration for younger people to get off their bums and do something."

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