Judy Young

EDITOR’S NOTE: Below is the biography of Judy Young, one of nine inductees in the Chautauqua Sports Hall of Fame’s Class of 2024. The other inductees are Karen Bakewell, Daniel Bryner, Cheryl Burns, Tom D’Angelo, Doug Kaltenbach, Rod Maloy, Carlene Sluberski and Karen Tellinghuisen. These nine individuals will be formally inducted at the CSHOF’s 42nd induction banquet on Monday. Tickets are available at the CSHOF, 15 W. 3rd St., Jamestown; at the Jock Shop, 10 Harrison St., Jamestown; at Matt’s News, 93 E. 3rd St., Dunkirk; by calling banquet chairman Chip Johnson at 716-485-6991; or online at https://www.chautauquasportshalloffame.org/.

Judy Young is used to breaking records. Add one more to her list. At the age of 97, she is the oldest person to ever be chosen for induction into the Chautauqua Sports Hall of Fame as a member of its Class of 2024.

Born in 1926, Young grew up in Queens County, New York, swimming in the tidal bay and ocean. Her husband’s job moved her to Jamestown in 1960. With two young sons, she became active at the

YMCA, first as a volunteer and later as the secretary to the executive director. She recognized the importance of physical fitness and found many opportunities to stay fit at the Y.

After Judy retired in 1987, she heard about the Allegheny Mountain YMCA/YWCA Masters

Swimming Association (AMYMSA) and brought it to the attention of the Jamestown Y’s aquatics director. A local team was formed and Young began competitive swimming at the age of 61.

Over the next 36 years, Young has literally rewritten the record book for age-group swimming. She holds age group national records in the 50-, 100-, 200- and 500-yard freestyles and the 50-, 100- and 200-yard backstrokes.

In 2016 she entered eight events in the 90-94 age group at the YMCA Masters National Swimming

Championships in Sarasota, Florida. She won gold medals in all eight events and set new national records in the 200- and 500-yard freestyles, and the 100- and 200-yard backstrokes. Those records still stand.

In 2022, she swam in seven events in the 95-99 age group at the YMCA Masters National Swimming

Championships in Orlando, Florida. She won gold medals in all seven events and set new national records in the 50-yard freestyle, 100-yard freestyle, 500-yard freestyle, 50-yard backstroke, 100-yard backstroke and 200-yard backstroke. And those records still stand, too.

She is a 15-time age group champion at YMCA Masters Nationals since age 90. Representing the

Jamestown masters team, Judy, since age 75, is also an 18-time age-group champion in the AMYMSA regional league which covers four states.

She won six gold medals at the 2023 National Senior Games in the age 95-99 division and set new times in all events. She lowered the record in the 50-yard freestyle from 1:24.3 to 1:17.1; in the 100-yard freestyle from 3:22.9 to 2:44.2; in the 200-yard freestyle from 6:52.9 to 6:28.4; in the 50-yard backstroke from 1:34.1 to 1:28.1; in the 100-yard backstroke from 3:28.9 to 3:02.3; and in the 200-yard backstroke from 6:53.8 to 6:22.37.

Young has been nationally recognized as a Humana Game Changer for being an outstanding athlete who exemplifies active aging and provides encouragement, motivation and inspiration for people of all ages to pursue lifelong health.

Judy Mascari, the Medicare president at Humana in New York said, “Judy’s passion for swimming is proof that age isn’t an obstacle to engaging in activities that bring joy and promote well-being. While not everyone has a desire to compete, I think Judy can inspire us all to change the game for active aging and challenge society’s expectations of what it means to be a senior.”

Judy resides in Jamestown. Her son, Jim, is a 2013 CSHOF inductee in the sport of basketball. The

Youngs are the first mother and son enshrinees. Add another one to the Judy Young record book.