It lasted for 33 years, until her doctor recommended she start swimming to relieve the pain from a bad back.  She was 54 a t the time.  She had worked for the telephone company, spent seven years in a cloistered religious order and became the first female graduate of Providence College in Rhode Island.  She was married to Doneal Walker, a Naval officer and traveled through Europe with him for seven years until he died unexpectedly in 19

70.  She then taught school and became a guidance counselor at Western Hills Junior High School.  It was then that she got back in to the pool - for therapeutic reasons.  Wasn't much, just three days a week for a few months.  But after she entered her first swim meet, maintaining somewhat the same stroke that Coach Joe Whitmore had taught her years before, she set a US National record in the 50 yard breaststroke in the 50-54 age group.  It inspired her and re-enthused her to train hard. It was as if all the years away from the water didn't matter.  It was as though she were alive again back in the Olneyville Boys Club, her world defined by the borders of the pool.

Once again swimming became everything to Clara.  Before she graduated from the 55-59 age group, she had set more than 103 national records.  currently, she holds every world and national record in the 65-69 age group except in the butterfly.  And she did the same thing when she was in the 60-64 age group.  Her records and her achievements follow her through time.

Clara had been undefeated in competition for over ten years. She has been selected the Outstanding Masters Swimmer in her age group for the past eight years and has been the holder of 184 world records and 468 national records, more than any other Masters swimmer in the world, male or female.