Tom Landis sets world swim records

Tom Landis... world record swimmer.

Camp Sherman's master swimmer, Tom Landis, set two new world records and came home with 11 first place medals in swimming events held last month in Australia and New Zealand.

Competing first in the Australian National short course championships held at Sydney, Australia, the 60-year old Landis was victorious in the 50-, 100-, 200- and 400-meter freestyle events. He also was first in the 100-meter butterfly. His time of 2:15.84 in the 200-meter event set a world record surpassing the old mark of 2:21.31.

Short course events are held in 25-meter pools and long course events use 50-meter pools.

Next, it was on to the World Masters Champ- ionships (long course) at Christchurch, New Zealand, where Landis won the 50-, 100-, 200-, 400- and 800-meter freestyle events. His 200-meter long course time of 2:17.43 was a new world record (old record: 2:20.54). Tom's time in the 800-meter event was a new national record at 10.29.35 (old record: 10:29.40).

Landis also won the three-kilometer open ocean water swim event at Christchurch in 46:09.

"The ocean water was pretty cold, about 62 degrees F., that day and several swimmers had to be pulled from the water," Landis said. "Five hundred people signed up for the event but only 400 competed because of the water temperature."

Landis worked hard to get into peak condition for the Down Under events.

"I got together with coach Bob Bruce last year and decided to train really hard and see what I could really do," said Landis.

Bruce coaches the Central Oregon Masters Aquatics program at Bend's Juniper Aquatic Center and Landis lauds him for helping in his swimming success. Bruce coached this year's National team at the Christchurch championships.

"We set up a training program that commenced last November for me to workout five days a week swimming 4,000 yards a day, "said Landis.

"My talent is in the 200-meter event where speed and endurance are needed," said Landis.

Landis trains hard, but does not maintain any special diet regimen.

"I still enjoy fast foods and beer," he said.

There were approximately 600 swimmers in the Australian championships and 2,700 in New Zealand in various age categories, representing 61 countries at the Christchurch events.

After his winning success, Tom and wife Madeleine Landis relaxed and toured New Zealand for a brief vacation.

Landis makes a 70-mile round trip from Camp Sherman to Bend for swim workouts.

"It sure would be nice to have a competition size pool in the Sisters-Camp Sherman area," he said. "It would benefit so many people."