In Their 80s, Still Running, Jumping, Breaking Records
Saturday, 2026/09/05219 words3 minutes519 reads
At the World Masters Athletics Championships in Daegu, South Korea, three athletes showed a wide picture of later-life competition. Chinese athlete Lu Mingpu, 92, won the M90 long jump with 2.05 metres. M90 is for athletes aged 90 and over. His jump followed a winning Chinese 4x100-metre relay in the younger M85 category. He entered six events.
Ding Ming, 82, won the M80 80-metre hurdles in 15.99 seconds. The Global Times, citing Jimu News, reported that the result improved the Asian record for his age group. Sawang Janpram of Thailand, 106, was the oldest competitor. World Masters Athletics says he began exercising at about 80 and entered a formal competition at 97; in Daegu, he competed in throwing events.
The event is open from age 35 in five-year categories. Official registration listed 7,522 athletes and 3,703 support staff from 106 countries. This scale shows masters athletics includes people with varied sporting histories, not one exceptional type of athlete.
The performances challenge narrow ideas about ageing, but do not prove ageing can be defeated or justify copying elite masters training. Bodies and preparation differ. The practical lesson is more modest: staying physically active in ways suited to one's own health, experience and ability can support daily life. A medal is not the only goal; independence, connection and enjoyment matter too.
