By Harsh Thakor*
Bakula Patel, a "Daringbaj Dadi" from Rander, Surat, has undeniably proven that age is no barrier to achieving remarkable physical milestones. Similarly, 82-year-old Dot Wagstaff has joined the ranks of inspiring seniors by becoming one of the oldest people to cross the English Channel as part of a relay team, setting a new benchmark for physical feats in old age.
Fusing domestic life with active and competitive sports, and maintaining her fitness through yoga and jogging, Bakula Ben's aquatic journey began at 60. What started as a non-stop, relentless adventure has since become an untold inspiration for senior citizens. "I believe there is no certain age to learn or do something new," expressed Bakulaben Patel, an 80-year-old swimmer from Surat, Gujarat, whose love and dedication to the sport transcends conventional boundaries. Having taken up swimming just two decades ago, she now serves as a role model, demonstrating that age is no hindrance to scaling physical feats. She boasts over 500 awards for swimming, showcasing her unwavering dedication. She has transcended barriers previously unscaled by an Indian woman in aquatic sports, her experiences manifesting an unparalleled thrill for life and a quest for self-exploration. The journey she has navigated, exploring new horizons, arguably deserves a book.
Bakulaben Patel was once terrified of water and avoided learning to swim her entire life. However, at 58, she embarked on a new journey, exploring different athletic endeavors. She decided to confront her fears and take up swimming. "I asked myself, 'How long am I to keep running away from swimming?' and that was when I made the stern decision to finally learn the skill," said Patel. "I was into sports and athletics from a young age, but I lost my parents early, was married off at thirteen, and became a widow when my children were still young. I felt all alone," she shares over the phone from her Surat home. When her children left home several years later, she didn't know what to do, she recalls, her voice laced with melancholy. "So I thought I would distract myself with a sport."
Patel learned to swim in the Tapi River, where she continues her regular practice. Her daily routine involves waking early, jogging to the river, and doing stretches on the bank before diving in. The 80-year-old swims about 100 meters a day and has also instructed over 400 swimmers, hoping to continue encouraging more people into the sport. Patel rises before the sun, runs fourteen kilometers, and performs eleven Surya Namaskars and Shirshasanas before beginning her daily grind, all without assistance. She doesn't take a nap and rarely rests, preferring to spend her evenings immersed in the Tapi, which has virtually become her home.
Dipping her feet in more challenging waters worldwide, Bakulaben Patel has won a bounty of medals and certificates. Her most arduous challenge was her resilient swim, twice, in the Canadian Sea. Patel is spurred by a burning spirit to achieve more, scaling unexplored barriers. She hopes to conquer the English Channel one day and also aims to set a Guinness World Record in swimming. Patel’s prowess in swimming extends far beyond the local Tapi River in Surat. She has participated in swimming meets in various environments across the world, including the Bay of Bengal, the Arabian Sea, the Atlantic Ocean, and the Pacific Ocean. She has transcended the Tithal Sea in Valsad and even the expansive seas of Mumbai. Her extensive participation in national and international competitions has made her a true role model.
Beyond swimming, Bakulaben Patel also debuted as a Bharatnatyam dancer at the age of 75. She made headlines for being one of the oldest individuals to learn and perform the Arangetram. Patel has been felicitated as a dancer as well.
Adding to the narrative of age-defying athletes, Dot Wagstaff from Pateley Bridge in North Yorkshire joined five others in a relay team to conquer the 21-mile (34km) English Channel. Their journey began at 1:00 AM BST on June 18, with Ms. Wagstaff swimming in dark and cold conditions, wearing only a swimming costume, goggles, and cap. Despite being forced to divert course by the French Navy, the team landed near Wissant beach in France 18 hours and 18 minutes later.
The challenging swim was undertaken in aid of Cosmic, a charity supporting families, nurses, and doctors treating babies and children in intensive care. "It was interesting, cold, glad I've done it but relieved to get it over with," Ms. Wagstaff shared. A significant hurdle was the initial delay from last September, which meant rigorous winter training in cold water to maintain readiness.
Every swimmer contributed three hour-long legs, with one also finishing the last 18 minutes. Ms. Wagstaff emphasized the team's strong bond: "You're given a particular order and you have to stick to that order, no matter if you get ill, you've got to do your stint." She added, "It was a brilliant team. It was the first time we'd all been together but we all got on so well and the overriding thing was we didn't want to let each other down by not doing our legs."
The team had to swim beyond the forecasted tide due to a diversion caused by a French naval vessel's exclusion zone. "When we actually got there, the relief was amazing and there was just so much enjoyment from everybody," Ms. Wagstaff recounted. This wasn't her first major challenge; she also competed in the Ironman world championships in Hawaii in her 60s. "I think this one has been the longest coming," she said, recalling a teenage desire to swim the Channel. The grandmother rigorously trained with both lake and pool swims. She humorously suggested a divorce would be on the cards if she took on another huge challenge, but re-uniting with her swim team, mostly in their 50s, was definitely planned.
Collectively, the group raised more than £25,000 for Cosmic. Susannah Forland, the charity's chief executive, expressed immense pride: "We are extremely proud of Dot and the rest of the Cosmic Rays team on such a fantastic achievement. We are enormously grateful for their amazing fundraising efforts, which will directly support essential services, including on-site-family accommodation, counseling support, specialist equipment for our intensive care units and vital research into life-threatening childhood diseases."
As a Channel swimmer myself, I consider Dot Wagstaff's achievement at her age to be incredible, showcasing that endurance can be imperishable, irrespective of age. Most commendable is the courage with which she bore the arduous cold-water training throughout the winter.
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*Freelance journalist who swam the English Channel in 1988
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