Throughout his life, Charlie Erwin has exemplified the Thrive5 pillars of well-being and longevity, even at age 94.
At 94, Charlie Erwin’s purpose is clear: swimming. The Kitty Hawk local of just shy of 30 years went from nearly drowning as a young child to becoming a six-time North Carolina state senior swimming champion. Masters national medalist and a record-holder in events ranging from the 100-yard to the 400-yard freestyle. His home is filled with trophies, medals and meticulously kept meet records spanning decades. “I don’t think old,” he says. “I think young.”
Charlie’s energy shows in everyday life. Before his interview, he vacuumed his house, carried things up and down the stairs and moved furniture around. His memory is sharp and his humor is quick.
That childhood brush with drowning gave him a lifelong sense of perseverance and swimming became the channel for that determination. At 16, he raced adults in the ocean at Hampton Beach, New Hampshire, finishing third. The next year he returned to the frigid water and won because, as he puts it, he simply couldn’t accept third again.
He kept swimming throughout his 22-year Navy career, serving across the Mediterranean, Pacific and Vietnam. He competed whenever he could, often pulling together relay teams with swimmers faster than himself.
Through every chapter of his life, swimming has been his anchor. Charlie trains at the Outer Banks YMCA three to four times a week and has built many lasting relationships through the sport. He continues to compete in relays and long-distance events, sometimes traveling long distances to meets. When life feels stressful, he returns to the pool. “I just keep swimming,” he says, letting the water bring balance to his life.
Family has always been at the heart of Charlie’s life. He was married to his late wife, Dottie, whom he dearly loves, for 62 years. His children, Mike and Debbie, remain part of his daily routines, offering support and sharing time together. His kitchen is covered in family photos as a constant reminder of the people he loves and is most proud of. His grandson Blake now swims too, inspired partly by an incident—like Charlie—and partly by the example his grandfather sets. Blake calls him “the best grandpa you could ask for,” remembering how Charlie once jumped into the pool during one of his competitions, bringing humor to the moment and teaching him not to take everything too seriously.
Charlie credits his longevity to “thinking young” and staying consistent with movement, balance, purpose, humor and connection. His diet is steady: each morning begins with an orange, coffee and an English muffin. He enjoys pasta, chicken and mixed nuts, and recently added protein to help maintain strength in the water.
Swimming has been his constant from childhood to Navy service to the present day. And he plans to keep going at least until he turns one hundred. After that, he says with a grin, he might consider thinking “old.” Until then, Charlie continues to swim in the Fountain of Youth—the Thrive5.
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Charlie stands at the YMCA, where he swims often.
