49-Year-Old Phyllis Reffo Walks on to Pepperdine Swim Team

Phyllis Reffo has walked onto the Pepperdine swimming and diving team at the age of 49, becoming the latest athlete to prove that age cannot hold someone back. Reffo says she began swimming six years ago to maintain her fitness after undergoing major knee surgery. She was noticed by the swim coach at Santa Monica College, who invited her to begin practicing with the team. Reffo ended up swimming for SMC for two years.

When she applied to colleges, she contacted Pepperdine’s swimming coach, who helped her apply at the NCAA’s eligibility center. Despite her age, Reffo learned she had two years of eligibility left. She’s taking advantage of the eligibility and will be competing in the 100- and 200-yard individual medleys and the 50 and 100 breaststroke events.

Reffo was a model in her early days and also worked in the world of finances. Now, she runs a Pilates studio in addition to swimming and attending school at Pepperdine.

She has a very cool story, and we’ll be wishing her success. But if she really wants to break some records here at LBS, she has to swim for another 12 years to compete with this guy.

Thanks to Bryan D. Fischer for the story