
After more than 40 years in competitive swimming, Cypriot veteran athlete Charalambos Panayides continues to prove that age is not a barrier. At 56, he still trains and competes at the highest level, most recently finishing ninth at the 2025 World Masters Championships in Singapore.
Competing as a veteran, he said, is a unique experience, with its own set of rewards. “Former champions and even Olympians take part. This raises






