Ann Case’s swim coach nicknamed her “the Animal” because of her feisty, dogged determination to swim one of the hardest events in Masters Swimming, the 200-yard butterfly. That is eight lengths of the (Bell) pool. The Butterfly stroke is undoubtedly the hardest sprint stroke in swimming and very few women, or men, can complete that event in her age group. Last year, Case won the world championship in Dohar, Qatar for women 80-84 years old. She also medaled in the 100- and 50-yard butterfly events.

Mary Ann, as she was named at birth, goes by “Ann” while her twin, Mary Jo, goes by “Jo.” She was an active child but was discouraged from athletics in parochial schooling.  Instead she taught younger students tumbling, tap dance and baton on the playground and eventually at a private gym franchise. She stayed with that corporation for 23 years and became a gymnastics coach and judge for young tumblers in Minneapolis and St Paul, MN. A moment of pride for her was to go to the 1976 Olympics in Montreal to watch one of her gymnasts compete. 

Athletically, Case’s interests have run from gymnastics to diving, swimming, hiking, canoeing and skiing. Before landing in Sun City in 2008, she and her husband Jim motor homed for several years. They were attracted to the many clubs and activities available to them in Sun City. They sold the motor home and settled here.

Ann and Jim joined several clubs but Ann gradually focused on swimming. Her first swim competition, at Sierra Vista, as a 69 year-old, gave her confidence to continue. She turned out to be a natural butterflier. In 2011 she won her first U.S. Masters Swimming national championship. In 2014 she swam in the FINA World Championships in Montreal and took championships in all three butterfly events. She recently became a champion of the Nevada State Senior Games and the next week champion of the Huntsman National Senior Games in St George, UT.  Last summer she won another world championship in Qatar. 

Unfortunately, medical issues have sidelined Case for the foreseeable future. She had been looking forward to setting new records in the 85-89 year old age group but it’s going to have to wait.