Raymond F. Taft, 83; Competitive Masters Swimming Champion
Raymond F. Taft, 83, a champion in masters swimming, died Friday at Kaiser Hospital in Redwood City of complications from a stroke.
In the early 1970s, Taft helped found the masters swimming format, which offers competitive swimming to people 19 and older.
He held world and national swimming records, and won several national and international championships.
A native of San Francisco, Taft began swimming in junior high school. In 1940, he had the world’s fastest time in the 100-meter backstroke, but World War II prevented him from competing in the Olympics.
After serving in the Army during the war, he returned to the Bay Area and, with the help of his wife, opened a swim school.
Taft, who underwent quadruple bypass surgery in 1990, was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 1996 for his individual accomplishments and his efforts on behalf of masters swimming.
This year, Taft was ranked in the top 10 nationally for his age group in 11 events, including top rankings in four events.
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