16 Sep Could you beat the World Champion 97 year old runner?
If you are feeling that you need inspiration to achieve a goal you feel is unreachable, or think you are too old to try a new skill, be inspired by the competitors at the British Masters Athletics Championships which are held at Birmingham this weekend.
One of the competitors is 97 year old Dr Charles Eugster, who is competing in the 100m, 200m and long jump. He is known as the World’s Fittest O.A.P. after he set the World Record aged 95 by running the indoor 200m in just 55.48 seconds as shown in the linked video.
Charles trains as an athlete three days a week, and is the World Champion at 100m and 200m outdoor, plus European Veterans Indoor Athletic Champion for the 60m and 200m in the M95 years+ category.
Charles has won over 100 rowing events, including 36 Masters Golds and he has competed three times at Henley Royal Regatta. He is also the reigning Strenflex World Champion in the 80+ category and the holder of the Van Der Merwe Cup.
Charles has not always been such an active sportsperson. He was a dentist for most of his career which led to a sedentary lifestyle. He began competitive rowing at aged 63; from 1997 to 2013, he won 40 Gold Medals at World Masters Rowing Regattas. Amazingly, he only began sprinting at the age of 95 in 2014, when he competed to become the British Masters Outdoor Athletic Champion for the 100m and 200m in the Male 95+ category.
At age 93, Charles gave a talk at TEDX Zurich “Why bodybuilding at 93 is a good idea” on the benefits of pursuing an active lifestyle in your golden years. Charles highlights that in the USA, 92% of people over the age of 65 suffer from at least one chronic disease. He explains one main cause is inactivity as we tend to slow down our lives after retirement – and yet there is no connection between work and an individual’s physical and mental health.
Charles pursues his regular physical training and participating in competitive sports to maintain his energy, motivation, good health and an active mind.
Charles is not just dedicated to his physical training. Most days, he pursues his research on building good health in older people. But Charles does not study at leisure at home – he has built the daily habit of attending his office with a commute that involves a walk up a steep hill for 10 minutes, a half hour train ride, followed by a 10-minute tram journey. Charles’ enthusiasm for his training, competitive sports and having fun is inspiring as a whole lifestyle. He embraces healthy eating, exercise and challenging your mind to be achieve your potential to lead a more enjoyable and rewarding life.
Charles’ inspirational outlook on life is very close to the Peak Performance training led by Heather and the Advance team. Pursue your goals and maintain your values to achieve your potential and be the best version of you that you can be.
That seems to sum up Charles Eugster who is the living proof that in old age you can continue to achieve beyond your previous potential by taking up new challenges, learning new skills and stepping out of your comfort zone.
We wish Charles and all his fellow competitors that they achieve their goals this weekend and hope they enjoy every moment of their success.
For more information on the British Masters Athletics Championships check the website.