The Cupertino Courier

Cover Story

Photograph by Jacqueline Ramseyer

Champion swimmer Jim Triolo, 92, says he likes the backstroke because the view's so good.' He prefers open water swimming to a swimming pool.

Only a Number

Ninety-two year old champion swimmer proves you're only as old as you feel

By Michelle Maghribi

At 92, Cupertino resident and swimming legend Jim Triolo is still making a splash. Not only did he take home two gold medals in the XI FINA World Masters Championship in August, he also makes waves outside of the water, dedicating most of his life to helping others.

The championship swim meet, held at Stanford University, where Triolo once competed, featured more than 7,000 swimmers from 80 countries.

Five other competitors were in Triolo's age group of 90-94. Triolo grabbed the gold in the 200-meter backstroke and the 200-meter freestyle, placing second (silver) in three other events. "A younger guy beat me," said Triolo, referring to the 90-year-old former Olympian who edged him out for the gold.

Triolo has been an avid swimmer since the age of 6; he taught himself how to swim in the San Francisco Bay. He was born in San Francisco but moved to Alameda with his mother and sister after his parents separated.

"My mother was the driving force," he remembers. "I grew up in Alameda, and she encouraged my sister and me to swim every day because she knew how good it was for us."

Triolo began to swim competitively with the Boy Scouts at the age of 10 and won his first medal in the 800-meter freestyle event at the Junior National Championship when he was 15.

Swimming would ultimately shape Triolo's life, beginning in 1927 when, at the age of 13, he rescued a child from a lake in the Sierra and later saved the life of a boy in the bay near Alameda. During his four years swimming competitively at Alameda High School, Triolo was undefeated.

He continued to enjoy an illustrious swim career with highlights that included:

*All American Champion at Stanford in the 220 and 440 yard events freestyle (four years);

*First-string Stanford Water Polo team (three years);

*Olympic relay team trials in 1932 (he lost by 1/5 of a second to his best friend).

Triolo has continued to take home "medals" both in and out of the water. His is a testament to a life well lived.

In addition to having had an active lifestyle into his 90s, he credits others around him for his longevity. Genetics apparently have nothing to do with it. Both of Triolo's parents died in their 50s following strokes.

Triolo believes his longevity has a lot to do with staying physically active, having a good attitude and staying close to family. "I've had a happy life, lots of breaks and lots of people to help me," he says.

He's been married to wife Elaine for 64 years. They met in 1941 while Triolo was serving as a U.S. vice consul in Bogota, Columbia. "Elaine was the secretary to the ambassador. When I asked to see him, she said 'follow me,' and I have been doing it ever since," Triolo said, smiling.

Marriage may have shortened his diplomatic career, he says, pointing out that by marrying Elaine, he usurped the ambassador's best secretary. The Triolos currently live at the Forum, a retirement community in Cupertino. They have three grown children.

Triolo has been a "yell leader" for several years at the Cal vs. Stanford game. Elaine Triolo, 89, admires her husband's dedication to his swimming as well as the university and says, joking, "Sometimes I don't know who comes first, his wife or Stanford."

Triolo followed his passion for helping others by becoming a professional fundraiser for noted institutions that include the Stanford fund, the Salk Institute and Scripps Clinic and Research Foundation. He has also dedicated more than 60 years of service through the International Rotary Club, including a post as a past president in clubs located in Texas and California.

Fellow Cupertino Rotarian, past president and past district governor James Walker calls Triolo "a role model for us all." Walker met Triolo approximately 10 years ago when the Triolos first moved to Cupertino. "Jim is one of the most generous people I know. He has had a positive effect on many people over the course of his lifetime," Walker said.

Asked what he thought Triolo's longevity secret might be, Walker said, "He and Elaine are a handsome couple; you would never see them as old. I suspect they are just now entering middle age; they are the youngest couple we know."