Golden Oldies in Sport
Roger Federer did it again in the recent Australian Open Final. He darted up and down the court sprinting a few kilometres, reacted to oncoming tennis balls in less than 0,3 seconds and held his nerve and concentration for four hours. He came back from injury to win one of the most grueling sporting events at age thirty five. At a stage when many are past their best sporting years, he maintains the excellence of his prime.
Which makes me wonder – to what age do some top sportsmen continue at a high level?
Kim Collins ran his best time in the one hundred meter sprint last year. A blistering 9,93 seconds at the age of ....forty. This was after he had competed five times as an Olympian. Merlene Ottey, another fine sprinter from the Caribbean, won nine medals at no less than seven Olympic Games, her last at age forty four. Two stand out athletes as strength and reflexes are of the first advantages of youth to give when years creep on.
At home we have Victor Matfield who played for the Springbok rugby team last year at the age of thirty eight. In other tough sports, there was Saoul Mamby who once held a world boxing title, made the proverbial comeback, and fought competitively at age sixty. George Blanda played professional American football at age forty eight. Nancy Lieberman played professional basketball until fifty. How the human body can withstand such continual battering is beyond me.
Moving on to gentler pastimes where fine motor skills carry the day. Gary Player kept to the professional Golf circuit until the age of seventy three and is famous for saying “The more I practice the luckier I get”. In India Raja Singh played first class cricket at age seventy two. Howzat!?
Fast forward, way forward, to some vintage Golden Oldies.
Last year I had the privilege of competing in the World Masters Athletics Championships. I was part of the "Oldie Team" from South Africa, as my children say. In Australia I watched in wonder as Hugo Delgado beat five contestants to win the one hundred meters sprint in his age category. He is ninety one. Shortly after his race he danced on end in front of the live band at the stadium. Imagine that energy and joie de vivre as a nonagenarian. (Only four decades and I’m there.)
Recently the ninety six year old Jonathan Mendes finished the New York Marathon. While it took him more than eleven hours to shuffle the distance, he said: “I can still do these things and I’m in good health. I’m just so grateful for it.” Connie Brown has run a staggering 36 New York Marathons, her last one at age seventy one.
Certainly the top spot for grizzled gamboling goes to Stanislaw Kowalski from Poland. He won the short sprint at the Polish national championships at age of one hundred and five. One hundred and five! His performance necessitated a new age category for Masters Athletics.
Is there a point in my relaying these impressive feats of respected sportsmen and women? I can highlight the health benefits of exercise and how it keeps the mind and body younger. Or I can elaborate on the everlasting joy and challenge of sporting activity. But this is clear and known already.
Let’s just say that sometimes a good thing can last a long, long time.
Main Image: Eric Holmlund
http://www.ericholmlund.com/art/prophetic/running-the-race
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Comments
Gert Scholtz
7 years ago #18
Dean Owen That is impressive Dean. Looks like you hit your golden period twenty four years late. Never a more elegant diver than Greg Louganis.
Gert Scholtz
7 years ago #17
Gert Scholtz
7 years ago #16
Ken Boddie
7 years ago #15
#18 Hey you guys, what's this 'crossfit'? Is it related to a 'hissy fit' or is it what I deteriorate into when I fall off the cross trainer? 🤣
Dean Owen
7 years ago #14
I was a breaststroke specialist, at my peak doing regular 1m11s for the 100m, which back in 1961 would have been a World Record. I was just 24 years too late. Spitz was an idol to me back then, as were Moses, Louganis, Biondi, Thorpe and of course Katajima in the years following. Crossfit is way too strenuous for me. Liquid sports only please! 🍺🍻🍾🍶🍸
Gert Scholtz
7 years ago #13
Dean Owen Anthony Irvin - watch out for Dean Owen's front crawl - that is after we have finished our pub crawl. A sport that has really caught on here and in the US is Crossfit - good for all round fitness and not too hard on the joints. They now even have a 60+ age class. A mention also of Mark Spitz - another golden swimmer. Cheers Dean!
Gert Scholtz
7 years ago #12
Donna-Luisa Eversley You ARE a Goldie star Donna-Luisa! On a converse note to the post - on Saturdays I coach three young school athletes. Helping to grow their skill and confidence is one of the most satisfying experiences I have had in sport. Thanks for reading and glad it had you in golden reverie.
Gert Scholtz
7 years ago #11
I do mention cricket in the post - Raja Singh from India who played first class at age seventy two.
Dean Owen
7 years ago #10
Gert Scholtz
7 years ago #9
Ian Weinberg The mind state of purpose, confidence and belief is spot on. Perhaps, in especially endurance sport, there is also the ability to block out discomfort. Also the capacity to enjoy and live the moment. As they say "oud maar nog lank nie koud". Dankie Ian.
Gert Scholtz
7 years ago #8
Pascal Derrien I read that in one of his marathons, Jonathan Mendes was accompanied on the run by his grandson. Should we be so fortunate one day :)
Pascal Derrien
7 years ago #7
Ian Weinberg
7 years ago #6
Gert Scholtz
7 years ago #5
CityVP \ud83d\udc1d Manjit Glad to find another tennis enthusiast such as yourself. I go for the occasional knock-around on a court with my son who is a very good player. It is then when it really sinks in just how good these superstars are. Thank you for article on Joe Louis - it is tragic – but I think a fate that unfortunately befalls many. I have heard of this in the music industry as well – apparently Rod Stewart had to revive his career due to taxes owed. If there is a next Federer / Nadal match I will phone you cross-Atlantic so you don’t miss it again! Thanks for your extensive comments Manjit.
Gert Scholtz
7 years ago #4
CityVP Manjit
7 years ago #3
Ken Boddie
7 years ago #2
Gert Scholtz
7 years ago #1