At 95 years old, John Monné is still setting goals that would challenge athletes decades younger.
The Brantford, Ont., man recently captured four national titles at the 2026 Speedo Canadian Masters Swimming Championships in Windsor, Ont. He won every event he entered in the men’s 95-99 age category.
“You stick with it, good things will happen,” he said.
Monné claimed gold in the 200-metre breaststroke (9:06.12), 100-metre breaststroke (3:55.65), 50-metre backstroke (1:33.68) and 100-metre backstroke (4:08.29).
Monné was the lone competitor in his age division.
“I always say, if you want to beat me, you’ve got to show up,” he said with a laugh.
The Amsterdam-born swimmer, who immigrated to Canada in 1957, was one of approximately 580 athletes from 99 clubs competing at the national championships. He trains out of the Wayne Gretzky Sports Centre in Brantford and has been competing in masters swimming since the mid-1980s.
A history of victory
“I learned to swim in Holland,” he said. “(It was) breaststroke. That was the teaching stroke. I really didn’t get back into swimming again until 1984.”
His competitive résumé spans more than four decades and includes multiple national records and world championship medals. In 2012, he won gold in the 200-metre breaststroke and silver in the 100-metre breaststroke at the FINA World Masters Championships in Riccione, Italy. The achievement earned congratulations from both the prime minister and the mayor of Brantford.
Monné was inducted into the Brantford Sports Hall of Recognition in 2017.
Now approaching his 96th birthday in September, Monné has his sights set on the 2027 World Aquatics Masters Championships in Budapest, Hungary. He is expected to announce if he will be competing there later this year.
“I’ll probably go (to train) about five times a week, and also (add) more mileage,” he said.
‘He’s an inspiration’
His coach, Mike Finch, said Monné continues to train much like elite swimmers, albeit with adjustments.
“He’s an inspiration to everyone that meets him and sees him in the pool,” Finch said. “Anything I can do to help him do well in Budapest in 2027, I’ll certainly be doing.”
Finch said Monné’s program includes resistance training in the water, assisted swimming drills and technique work designed to improve efficiency.
“John really does inspire me,” Finch said. “He’s made coaching so much fun again.”
Outside the pool, Monné keeps active by riding a recumbent tricycle, often covering daunting distances. Recumbent tricycle riders sit in a reclined position, and the bikes are known for reducing saddle pain and minimizing the impact on users’ knees and ankles.
Every year on his birthday, he completes a ride equal to his age in kilometres. Last September, he rode 95 kilometres alongside dozens of cyclists and swimming friends.
Monné has also overcome significant health setbacks, including atrial fibrillation, a total knee replacement in 2020 and a stroke in 2023. Just one month after suffering the stroke, he completed a 93-kilometre birthday ride.
He credits both physical activity and mental engagement for his longevity.
“It’s not really important to become a champion. It’s not important,” Monné said. “The importance is stay active physically and mentally. You’re going to be fine.”
Monné said his son, Paul, has become his biggest supporter.
“He realizes, well, dad is getting old. He tries to keep things as safe, as secure as possible,” he said.
For Monné, the medals are secondary. The real victory, he says, is simply continuing to move.
“I’ll do this until I die,” he said.
