Glutafin Sponsored Swimmer Achieves Personal Bests in Oz 

May 2008

The team at Glutafin would like to say a huge congratulations to coeliac swimmer, Mark Straw, who has returned home euphoric, after achieving four personal bests in the 12th FINA World Masters Swimming Championships in Perth, Australia in April.

50-year-old Mark, who was sponsored by Glutafin, swam his fastest times ever in four out of his five races including 50, 100 and 200m freestyle and 50m butterfly in his age group of 50-54.

Mark said: “Wow, what a tremendous event! Memories that will stay with me forever are the Australian swimmer in the next lane in the 50m freestyle, shaking my hand after the swim and presenting me with his swim team cap and his team’s sun hat".

Mark was shockingly diagnosed with coeliac disease last October. However, never being one to let anything stop him - he has managed Type 1 diabetes since age 11 - he decided to conquer coeliac disease and the Championships!

Reflecting on the Championships, Mark says: “It was a wonderful experience meeting like-minded individuals from all over the world. I’ve definitely got the bug to compete internationally again. My coach is already gearing me up for my next event, the GB Long Course Championships in Manchester. After that, I’ll have to think about where I’d like to swim next!” 

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If you want to track Mark's challenge, visit his blog. Or perhaps you’ve got an interesting story to tell about managing coeliac disease abroad or else not letting coeliac disease stop you embracing a challenge? We’d love to hear from you. Just email us!