Local Resident Overcomes Fear of Swimming at 57, Helps Others Do the Same for NYC Triathlon

UPDATE: Barbara Cresse, 65, did not end up participating in the 15th annual Panasonic New York City Triathlon July 19. 
COURT HOUSE – After decades of being terrified of swimming, it took a simple YouTube tutorial video to make the then 57-year-old Barbara Cresse take the plunge. Eight years later, after teaching herself to swim online, Cresse, a Court House resident, now 65, is a seasoned triathlete who swam a mile in the Hudson River (followed by a 25-mile bike on the Henry Hudson Parkway and a ran 10K through Central Park) during the 15th annual Panasonic New York City Triathlon July 19, according to a release.  She was among 4,000 athletes who took to the river, roads and parks of Manhattan.
Passionate about helping others overcome the same fears that once kept her from even submerging her face in the water, Cresse makes it a race day priority to encourage fellow triathletes to enjoy the experience and not fear the swim portion of the race.
Placing second in her age group in last year’s race, she sought an even stronger finish this year.
Her love for swimming and triathlons led her to found the Cape May-based South Jersey Triathlon Group, where she teaches club members to swim in open water, using the Stone Harbor beach to train, telling group members to watch for waves and mind their breathing.
Having just received her U.S. Masters Coaching Certification, she hopes to start a local program that will encourage adults to swim, with the goal of proving you are never too old to swim and to continue inspiring others to face their fears of the water. 
The event was the only International distance triathlon in New York City. It included Pros, ParaTriathletes (physically challenged) and Age Group athletes ranging in age from 18 to 77 and representing 46 states and 36 countries.
Participants swam 1.5 kilometers (.9321 miles) in the Hudson River, biked 40 kilometers (24.85 miles) on the Henry Hudson Parkway, and ran 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) in Central Park.
The swim leg of the race began at 5:50 a.m. with athletes expected to cross the finish line in Central Park from 7:30 a.m. to noon. 
Race weekend also included the annual Sunset Produce Diaper Derby, Underwear Run, and the Animal Medical Center Doggy Dash during the Triathlon.
A total of $30,000 in prize money was awarded to winners in the male and female pro categories. 
For the fourth consecutive year, the Accenture Challenged Athletes International Championship was also held during Panasonic New York City Triathlon. The race format allowed all five Paratriathlon classes to compete against one another, providing a larger field of competition with $7,500 in prize money awarded to the top five male and female finishers.