At the World Masters Athletics Championship in Perth, a 96-year-old shot put competitor has some words of wisdom.
“A lot of exercise,” Elfriede Fuchs told SBS World News in German.
“Always stay in motion. Don’t be lazy. Don’t dawdle while saying, ‘aw, I don’t want to’.
“You need to be consistent. And reach your goals.”
Just four years shy of a century and with a noticeable spring in her step, Ms Fuch seems proof of that mantra.
Ms Fuchs is in Perth for the World Masters Athletics Championship, which finishes on November 6, and competed in the 80- to 95-year-old women’s shot put category.
She won her division with a solid 4.07 metres.
She was the only competitor but flying to the other side of the world and throwing a two-kilogram weight while spinning around is no mean feat for any 96 year old. Let alone the 90, 85 and 80 year olds also competing.
Ms Fuchs, who thinks meat and vegetables, and a small glass of red are a fine diet for living long, said she was happy with her performance.
Earlier in the day, the men’s 75 years and older javelin finals was a fierce but friendly affair.
Peru’s Hugo Delgado Flores, 92, won gold in the 200m in a neck and neck contest with Australia’s James Sinclair, 92, and Great Britain’s Dalbir Singh Deol, 90, taking third. Source: SBS
Seventy-eight year old Spencer Herft was one of two Australian athletes in the finals against Poland, Japan, and Finland.
He’d had to pull out of the long jump with a pulled hamstring, but with some heat gel on the afflicted area he managed a respectable fifth place in the javelin.
“This is less speed so it’s more manageable,” he said.
“I’m now a heart patient so I’ve got to be restricted but I’m still into it because I like doing it.”
The 20-year Masters veteran also came fourth in the triple jump before he injured his hamstring.
Masters president Stan Perkins said the competitors aged from 35 to 98 had broken several world records at this year’s event.
“People don’t realise just how good these athletes are,” he said.
“Some of the athletes here are still competing in the very top level in their home countries.”
One of those top performers is Great Britain’s Tamunonengiye-Ofori Ossai who backed up his 100 metre win of 10.58 seconds (wind assisted) with a 21.81 seconds win in the 200 metres. Australia’s Ashley McMahon was second on 22.05.
An Australian competitor in the women’s 80-95 shot put. Source: SBS
Mr Ossai said he was pleased with his double win and said in some ways it was more difficult as an older athlete to train at the elite level.
“Your body recovers slowly, you have work commitments, some people have kids, lots of things to focus on and you have to make money,” he said.
“As a young athlete, it’s not that crazy if you’re not making money so it makes it really difficult but at the end of the day everyone’s in the same boat.”
Mr Perkins said the Masters, which has attracted more than 4000 competitors, was an also an economic boost to Australia, particularly Perth.
He said more than 2600 competitors came from 92 countries.
“These people are self sufficient,” he said.
“They have disposable income and they spend it. They come to have a good time.”
American David Campbell was there to cheer on his brother Steven who won the M55 pole vault Source: SBS
