MANN WINS MULTIPLE MEDALS AT WORLD MASTERS CHAMPIONSHIP

Competitive swimming has always been a part of life for Dr. Stephen Mann. The family practice physician at High Lakes Healthcare in Bend, said he began swimming competitively at the age of 5, following in his father’s footsteps.

“My brother has three national records,” Mann said. “My dad went to New Zealand in the first World Championships in the ‘80s and got five gold medals. It’s a family tradition.”

Carrying on that tradition, Mann qualified and competed in the World Masters Championships in Australia this spring. He and his freestyle relay team brought home the gold in their age group. Mann also won a bronze medal in the 50-meter backstroke, and his team won a bronze medal in the medley relay.

“It’s unbelievable. There are people everywhere,” Mann said of the experience. “A guy two lanes over from Oslo, a family doctor there, broke the record in the 200 Individual Medley in my heat ... A guy in my heat from South Africa set a new world record in the 100 meter breaststroke.”

Mann, 56, competed in the World Masters Championships in Indianapolis 16 years ago in 1992. This event marked his first trip to Australia and he spent some extra time traveling around and scuba diving after the meet. During the seven-day-long competition, Mann said he enjoyed getting to know swimmers from across the globe and used his German-language skills to make connections.

“It’s a great way to get away from all the hassles of medical practice and be with people who don’t know who you are or what you do,” Mann said. “If you speak  foreign languages you can make friends and have a great time.”

Mann is a founding partner of High Lakes Healthcare where he currently serves as medical director. He is also the director of the Cascade Healthcare Community Education Committee.