Medal haul for mum of All Black

Robyn Crotty with her golden heal of medals. Picture Martin Hunter

By Gordon Findlater

Another Crotty is helping to stock the family trophy cabinet, this time in masters swimming.

Robyn Crotty, the mother of All Black Ryan Crotty, has returned home from Europe with a haul of medals and a new world championship record.

Crotty, 56, competed at the FINA World Masters Championships held in Budapest, Hungary, and arrived home on Friday with a gold, three silvers and a bronze medal.

The highlight of the championships came in the 55-59 200m butterfly. Crotty's time of 2min 44.22sec was not only good enough for gold, but was also a new championship record.

It was her second time competing at the championships after they were held in Christchurch in 2002. There she competed in the 40-44 age category and it appears age is not slowing her down.

"I swam faster in Hungary than I did back then. I'm now training better and smarter," said Crotty.

Travelling with husband Steve, the pair were in Budapest for the All Blacks first Bledisloe Cup victory, which their son Ryan played a starring role in.

"Steve found a bar over there that was showing the game. He came to watch me swim and then as soon as I finished he jumped in a taxi and got himself to the bar," said Crotty.

Crotty has a strong background in the pool. Previously representing New Zealand in water polo. In April she competed at the World Master Games in Auckland where she broke three New Zealand records and claimed four golds and a silver medal.

She is also a competitive bodybuilder and competed at the Natural Olympia championship in Las Vegas last year alongside her daughter, Shea.

- star.kiwi