Sport
10 September, 2025
World championship adventure
LOCAL sporting legend Wilf Dickeson has forged another brilliant chapter for the autobiography we’d all love to see him write, travelling to Singapore to compete at the World Aquatics Masters Championships.
At age 82, Dickeson tested himself against the world’s best swimmers in the 80-84 age bracket, racing in the 50-metre freestyle and backstroke events.
The former VFL footballer didn’t earn a spot on the podium for either event but was thrilled to have had a crack at swimming alongside the world’s best.
“It was an absolutely amazing experience,” said Dickeson.
“There was plenty happening all the time, it was tremendous to watch as well as participate.
“To see your name up in lights on the big screen is something to behold whether you finish first, last or wherever you finish.”
While proud of his effort, Dickeson’s competitive streak still burns brightly, and he admitted he’d have liked to finish a few seconds faster.
“My times weren’t quite as good as I’d have liked, I was hoping I might have had a PB or something,” he said.
“I swam pretty close to the times I submitted as being my entry times but I didn’t beat them, which was a little disappointing.”
Travelling with his wife Sandra, the evergreen fitness enthusiast enjoyed the atmosphere of Singapore and was fortunate enough that his trip coincided with the nations SG60 celebrations.
“I was due to swim on the 11th and 13th of August, so we went over on the 8th and booked into our hotel, and then the 9th was their national day, a celebration of the 60th anniversary of independence from Malaysia,” said Dickeson.
“There were street parades, it was spectacular, particularly the night part of it was amazing.
“There’s a hell of a lot to see, it’s a very vibrant city. Their gardens by the sea are something else.”
The World Aquatics Masters Championships attracted 6,000 competitors from around the world and the day before his first event, Dickeson witnessed a remarkable scene in the pool.
“The next day I had to go to get my accreditation card so while I was there, I went in and watched some of the women’s swimming and there was a 97-year-old lady who swam a 200-metre event,” he said.
“We all stood and cheered when she finished because it was just amazing.”
The event provided an opportunity for Dickeson’s family to surprise him and make the event even more memorable.
“Two really special things happened,” he said.
“The day before we got there, unbeknownst to me but known to my wife Sandra, my granddaughter arrived in Singapore, and the next day her mother arrived, so they were both there for my swimming and it was morale-boosting, fantastic.
“It was part of her 21 st birthday present, a trip to Singapore to see her old Pa swim.”
Having now seen the world’s best 80 to 84-year-old swimmers up close, Dickeson is already plotting his course for the next world masters championships.
“The next one is in two years’ time at Budapest,” he said.
“Now I was at the doctors today, and he deliberately wanted me to do some blood tests as soon as I got back from Singapore, and he said “you’re perfect, everything is perfect” so that’s encouraging.
“If I continue with my health and enthusiasm, I’ll try to meet the qualifying times in two years and make a holiday of it again.”
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