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Doris Lederer didn’t need a slight push. It took a lot of convincing to force her into the pool, swimming for gold at age 95. Her friends at Givens Estates Retirement Community convinced her to qualify for the North Carolina Senior Games near Raleigh recently.

“It all began when I saw a notice on a bulletin board here about swimming in the Senior Games for Asheville and Buncombe County,” said Lederer, a former teacher.

“When I called to find out more about it, I was told that there was no one in my age group (95-99) who had registered.”

She felt it was silly to be swimming if there was no competition, but was coaxed to go ahead, so she qualified locally through heats and went on to the North Carolina Senior Games. When draped with two gold medals during closing ceremonies, Lederer admits it was “rather exciting.”

“I still can’t believe it,” she said, “I count my blessings every day. I have so many friends and a have had a good life. I hate to say this, but I’m a little celebrity here at Givens.”

Photo and excerpt in appreciation from Susan Reinhardt at Ashville Citizen-Times.