Cade Lucas
Erin Abson is a champion masters swimmer, but the 36-year-old’s most impressive achievement might just be finding the time.
“I train five mornings a week before work, so I’m up at 4.30 every morning and I have two gym sessions in the afternoons as well,” said Ms Abson who lives in Altona Meadows, is a member of the Laverton Wynyard Aquatic club, trains at Aquapulse in Hoppers Crossing and then works as a school nurse at Mary Mackillop Primary school in Keilor Downs.
Oh, and she’s married with two kids under five as well.
“A bit of an understatement but yes, very busy,” said Abson to Star Weekly during one of her few spare minutes.
It’s a busy lifestyle which has paid off.
At the Victorian Masters Championships in April, Abson took home four gold and one bronze, while in the national titles in Darwin last month, she bagged five silvers and a bronze.
At last year’s world championships she finished inside the top 10 in two events.
While Abson only took up competitive masters (over 30) competition a few years ago, she’s no novice in the pool
“I’ve always been a swimmer,” she said.
“When I was a teenager I was a competitive swimmer and then I had an injury so took up track and field and cross country and I came back swimming after my eldest was born and realised I’ve still got it.”
Abson nominates the 400 and 200 freestyle and 200 breaststroke as her preferred events and is currently training for the state short course championships in August.
After a well earned break, she’ll return to training for another crack at the world masters championships in Singapore next year.
Retirement? Pfft.
“Age is just a number, put yourself out there and have a go,” she said.
It’s a motto Abson certainly lives up to.
