SAMUT SONGKHRAM, Thailand (Reuters) – It takes Thai athlete Sawang Janpram 27.08 seconds to run 100 metres. That’s not unhealthy, given he’s 102 years previous.
Sawang is understood for being the oldest sprinter within the Southeast Asian nation and has participated 4 instances within the annual Thailand Master Athletes Championships, notably within the 100-metre sprint, javelin, and discus occasions.
Last weekend on the championship’s twenty sixth iteration held within the southwestern Samut Songkhram province, he received all of the gold medals within the 100-105 years class as he has outlived all rivals in that age vary.
“Getting into sports activities made me sturdy and nicely. As nicely as this, exercising helps enhance your urge for food so that you eat nicely too,” Sawang says when requested in regards to the secret to his longevity.
Sawang’s on a regular basis routine contains each day walks along with his 70-yr-previous daughter, Siripan, and easy home chores like sweeping up fallen leaves of their backyard.
But the centenarian ramped this up forward of the video games, coaching twice a day for per week at an area stadium along with his daughter.
“My father all the time has constructive ideas … so he’s in an incredible psychological well being situation. In phrases of bodily well being, he has gotten a lot stronger,” Siripan says.
The coaching paid off. Sawang’s time for the 100-metre dash this yr was a private greatest and new Thai record for his age group.
Usain Bolt, who holds the one present world record, ran it in 9.58 seconds in 2009.
As Thailand’s society ages, the variety of contributors within the seniors class has grown, says Viwat Vigrantanoros, president of Asia Masters Athletics.
When the Thailand Master Athletes Championships began in 1996, there have been solely about 300 contributors. Today, there are over 2,000, their ages starting from 35 to 102 years.
“As you may see, all people who’s right here to compete has all forgotten about their ages. Once they neglect about their ages, they’re completely satisfied,” Viwat mentioned.
(Writing by Kanupriya Kapoor; Editing by Raissa Kasolowsky)
