www.shaklee.net/kellycurrie

His name is Dean Smith, and he lives in Lone Tree, Colorado. Nothing so remarkable about that, you say? But wait  he and his wife, Priscilla, are Lifetime Master Coordinators in Shaklee and have enjoyed a wonderful lifestyle and a fabulous income for decades! Remarkable? Absolutely. But, that's not all.

For the last five years, Dean has taken competitive rowing by storm, setting world records at Master events all over the globe. And the most amazing thing of all Dean just turned 82 years old! Dean began using Shaklee products at the age of 46. His story of fitness supported by Shaklee products is a testament to what can be accomplished with determination, courage and the best nutrition on the planet.

"When we joined Shaklee in 1972," Dean relates, "I started running to see if Shaklee products could make a difference. I soon discovered that they helped me to recuperate from exercise very quickly and that I was having maximum workouts day after day without breaking down. With this fast recuperation I felt I was able to make better progress than most other runners. And the products helped me mentally so I didn't get stale. Prior to being in Shaklee, I was not a world-class athlete!" In fact, Dean, who admits that he loves a challenge, believes that Shaklee products helped him improve his physical fitness regimen so much that he began to compete with runners at the world-class level.

He won a gold medal at a world meet in Gothenburg, Sweden in 1977 in the 800 meter race. By the next world meet in Hanover, Germany, in 1979, he improved his time to a record-breaking 2:03.05. Dean was 54 years old at the time. A few years ago, problems with his knees resulted in several operations which would have sidelined a less determined athlete. As Dean says, "I respond positively to challenges, and I like to compete, so I looked for something to take the place of running in my life. I discovered indoor rowing where I can compete in real time with other athletes all around the world every day." And compete he did!

Dean started indoor rowing in December 2002 and won the world championship in his age group in February 2003 when he was 76 years old, competing against 70 year olds. He has won every world championship in his age group since then, and in November 2006 won the English championship in Birmingham, England. Most recently Dean won the gold in his age group at the 2007 European Indoor Rowing championship in Dresden, Germany, setting a new world record, as well as winning the gold. He currently holds the world indoor world age group records in the 75 to 79 year age bracket in 500 meter, 1000 meter, 2000 meter, 5000 meter and 6000 meter events.

Not satisfied to remain indoors, after he moved to Colorado in 2006 he started rowing competitively on the water in sculls. Currently, he is a member of the Rocky Mountain Rowing Club and his outdoor achievements include the gold medal at the 2007 FISA World Masters Regatta in Croatia in both the single and the quad. In that same year, he also took top honors at the US National Rowing Masters Regatta in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. In 2008 he was a top performer in Long Beach, California at the National Championship Regatta where he won two gold medals in single sculls, two silver medals - one in single sculls and one as a double, and a bronze for an eight man team!

When asked about his relationship with Shaklee, Dean is all smiles. "I was drawn to Shaklee because of the company's philosophy and integrity. I soon became aware of its potential for my success and was challenged by qualifying for the trip to be held in Hawaii that year." He succeeded in attending that trip and many others since. In addition to the amazing health and fitness he enjoys, Dean credits Shaklee with providing the biggest benefits to his life. "Those are," he says, "a wonderful, healthy lifestyle, being around positive people, the challenge of being responsible for your own future, and helping others to succeed." What recipe for success does Dean share with new Shaklee people? "Learn the compensation plan, attend meetings, use the products, and tell your story to others!"

Despite his many accomplishments, Dean doesn't take his success for granted. He still gets up at 4:30 a.m. every morning to row at Cherry Creek Reservoir, near his home. This year, he's set his sights on competing in the 44th running of the prestigious Head of the Charles Regatta® in Boston, the world's largest two-day rowing event, and defending his title in the 2008 FISA World Masters Regatta in Vilnus, Lithuania in September.