Golden years: Alida Kingswood and Dean Smith on setting world records in their 90s

Last month’s World Rowing Virtual Indoor Championships (Feb 24-26, 2022) was the second year where athletes could compete from anywhere in the world with a Concept2 indoor rower and an internet connection. For many rowers, including 90 year old Alida Kingswood of Woodstock, Ontario, Canada, and 95 year old Dean Smith of Denver, Colorado, USA, virtual racing has become the new normal.

Both won their 2000 metre races in convincing fashion, setting new world records in their respective age and weight categories at this year’s event: Women’s 90-95 (Kingswood 10:29.3) and Men’s 95-99 (10:14.5 Smith). In fact, Kingswood and Smith are getting used to being the fastest in the world, each previously setting and currently holding 2000 m indoor rowing world records in women 85-90 heavyweight (10:11.8 Kingswood) and men 95-99 lightweight (9:55.8 Smith).

World Rowing spoke with Kingswood and Smith about their recent victories, what drew them to the sport of rowing and how the joy of competition motivates them to push their own limits and set new standards for the sport.

Alida Kingswood

“When I do something I go for the best,” says Kingswood, whose son had convinced her to buy a rowing machine, and suggested she re-focus on indoor rowing as something to do during the pandemic.

“Years ago, my son bought a Concept2,” she recalls. “I was visiting him and he said, try it. I did and apparently my timing was pretty good, so he said buy a rower and I did. Then I stopped and in 2021, he said, you could do it and win. So I tried it and rowed that February.” That race was last year’s World Rowing Virtual Indoor Championships, where she won her category and set her first new World Record.

Taking up rowing may have been a happy accident, but Kingswood’s determination to compete and keep her body moving is nothing new. “I was a swimmer most of my life and I stopped when the chlorine got too strong,” she says. “My son kept encouraging me to row, and in the pandemic you have to stay sane. My kids got me a gym membership when I turned 90. I do strength training and spin class on the bike, and in-between I row.”

“I am not a grandmother who bakes cookies for the kids,” she says. “I go out with them to do something. I need to work out. I have a son who encourages me. He goes to the gym and just for extras does 200 lunges. He is my inspiration in a way.”

As for having to race virtually, Kingston prefers the quiet of her own space to a cheering crowd. “When I row for the championship,” she says, “I want to do it by myself.”

When it comes to advice for people coming into the sport or continuing on as older adults, Kingston is straight to the point: “Most people my age are in a wheel chair or dead,” she jokes. “If you like exercise, go for it. When you are 90, you can do what you like.”

Dean Smith

Like Kingswood, Smith’s long active life has kept him moving. Already a record setting runner in a range of distances, he took up indoor rowing while living in Chicago, USA as a low-impact alternative in 2002. “I was looking for something else and a friend showed me the erg. It didn’t bother my knees so I bought one. Then I found out that they had meets and contests and I loved to work on World Records, so I started preparing for Crash-B [a major indoor competition in Boston, USA] and won three hammers [awarded for first place].”

Smith got a start on the water in 2006, after he and his wife, Priscilla Smith, moved to Denver, Colorado. “She heard about the rowing club and signed me up without me knowing about it. After flipping a number of times on day one, Smith quickly took to on-water rowing and in a few months won gold at the World Rowing Masters Regatta. Since then he’s won numerous golds all over the world on the water and on the rowing ergometer.

“I really love it,” says Smith of the sport. “I’m always looking for a record I can break. I like to win, but I don’t have to win. I’ve had a lot of help and have gained a lot of respect for others in my situation. I have to thank my wife for all of my success. She pushes me on. We’ve been married 68 years next month.”

Regarding the pandemic and the shift to virtual racing and even training, Smith takes it in stride, enjoying regular training sessions on zoom with a 71 year old friend. “He likes to row also and it is a contest, so it is great.”

“If I don’t work out, I don’t improve and I am not at my peak. In anything, I give it all I can give it.”

As for advice for others: “Just get in,” he says. “Don’t listen to people who tell you that you can’t do it. Anybody can do it. They just have to practice and go at it.”

You can rewatch Kingswood’s and Smith’s races through the World Rowing YouTube channel.