Youngster, 5, competes early

In June, The Villages resident Charlie Futrell, 90, became the oldest person to finish a USA Triathlon-sanctioned race. He crossed the finish line in 2 hours, 18 minutes and 38 seconds.

Probably the youngest triathlon athlete resides in Pasco County. ÿScotty Folino, 5, completed the 150-yard swimming leg of the Cotee Man Triathlon held Sept. 1. His father, Scott, biked 9 miles and his mother, Jen, ran 3 miles.

"I wanted him to participate in a family fitness event," said Jen Folino, an aerobic instructor and triathlon veteran. "He has inspired other children to participate in future family triathlons."

Even before his first birthday, Folino brought her son to the New Port Richey Recreation and Aquatic Center.

"Being in Florida, it's important for a young child not to fear water and to learn how to swim," she said. "At the time, I was teaching my nephew how to dive and Scotty just joined in."

He began by sitting on the edge of pool and diving in.

"At age 1, Scotty met another boy named Dale and they started swimming underwater together," she said.

Nicknamed "Aquadale," he and Folino eventually began surface swimming and diving.

According to Casey Claflin, Gulf High School and Tampa Bay Aquatics swim coach, Folino has a great attitude and is easy to teach.

"You'd be hard pressed to find another athlete his age who is so eager to learn and improve his skills," said Claflin.

In addition to swimming, Folino has been running competitively for more than a year. In February 2011, he participated in the 200-meter sprint at the Disney Kids Race in Orlando.

He is also getting a jump start in his education. Now in his third year of pre-school at the St. Ignatius Early Childhood Center in Tarpon Springs, he is learning how to spell and count. He is already skilled in his use of an iPad.

"Scotty is not only bright and intelligent, but he has a fantastic sense of wonder," said teacher Carol Janisz. "He loves science and predicting outcomes, as when we poured water on tiny magic beads. Scotty spoke up and said, 'Of course they will grow. Everything grows with water.' "