SANDPOINT — Ella Ackley admits she was not a good runner, so the 71-year-old retired physical-education teacher decided six years ago to begin swimming as a way to stay in top shape.

Soon thereafter, she began to notice some of the winning times at the National Senior Olympics and was surprised at what she saw from other swimmers in her age group.

“I looked up the times and said ‘I can do that,’” recalls Ackley, who swims four times a week. “You mention to people you’re a swimmer, and they think at our age we’re dog paddling across the pool. Swimmers in their 60s and 70s are kicking (butt).”

Ackley, who lives in Troy but trains twice a week in Sandpoint with local swim coach Mike Brosnahan, recently won the 200-meter backstroke at the National Senior Olympics in Cleveland, also claiming two second-place and two third place-finishes.

She also claimed all second and third-place finishes at the recent Long Course Nationals Masters Swimming Championships in California.

The results came as little surprise to Brosnahan, the popular longtime swim instructor at the Sandpoint West Athletic Club. He says Ackley is highly attentive to improving, calling her an amazing person to work with.

“She’s the one who puts all of the energy into it. It’s amazing what she’s done to herself in the past couple years,” said Brosnahan. “Ella’s fitness level is comparable to a 30-year-old who is in shape.”

With no pool in Troy, Ackley began commuting a few years ago to Sandpoint, where she and Brosnahan hit it off immediately. To be one of the elite swimmers in the country in your age group, it takes more than hard work and dedication. Focus on and refinement of swimming strokes is also essential.

“Mike is a fanatic on technique and I’m a fanatic on technique. We mesh fantastic,” admits Ackley. “If you’re going to do something, do it right as far as I’m concerned.”

Ackley was a high school swimmer in California, calling herself a pool rat at the time.

“When I reach 90, I’m going to break the world record,” she says with a laugh. “This has been a good year.”