Russ Witte has been splashing in water all his life.

At 87, he still swims 1,000 yards, three days a week in the Twin Towers Wellness Connection's 25-yard indoor lap pool in College Hill, where he lives.

And after all these years, Witte - along with his family - has become a champion swimmer.

His two sons, Ray and Jim, and grandson Evan, finished first in the 400-meter freestyle relay and in the 200-meter medley relay in the Third Annual Masters Long Course Summer Swim last month in Erlanger, Ky.

Russ Witte, front, in the pool with sons Ray (from left) and Jim and grandson Evan. (Witte family photo) | ZOOM |

Russ Witte was on the swim team in high school and at the University of Cincinnati. This year, in the National Senior Games in Hampton, Va., he finishedfirst in the 50-, 100- and 200-meter breaststroke, setting records in the 85-89 age group.

He won five gold medals at the Southwest Ohio Senior Olympics last year at the Keating Natatorium, and finished first in all four of his events at the Ohio State Senior Olympics.

His community activities have included serving as a Boy Scout troop scoutmaster, board member of the Gamble Nippert YMCA, president of the Cheviot-Westwood Kiwanis Club and construction chairman of the Harvest Home Fair. He and his wife, Jinny, reside in a patio home at Twin Towers.