It may not be at Rio Olympics, but a gold medal is a gold medal. It was indeed a proud moment for India when 100-year-old women, Man Kaur won a gold medal on Monday at the American Masters Games.
The Americas Masters Games is a sporting event held in Vancouver that takes place over 9 days and features athletes that are over 30 years of age. Man Kaur participated in the 100 meters race.
At that old age, Kaur just needed one-and-a-half minutes to finish the 100-meter sprint. When she crossed the finish line in Vancouver, she was applauded by her competitors, most of whom were in theirs 70s and 80s.
“When she wins, she goes back to India, and she’s excited to tell others, ‘I have won so many medals from this country‘,” said Kaur’s son Gurdev Singh (78).
“Winning makes her happy,” he added.
Kaur, who has previously won gold medals in shot put and javelin, was all smiles after finishing her race. The victorious woman raised her hands in the air and when asked how she felt, she took a moment to catch her breath and gulp down some much-needed water.
It was Singh who persuaded his mother to take up running at the age of 93. “I asked her. ‘You have no problem, no knee problem, no heart problem, you should start running,’” he said.
She also believes that older women should take up the sport.
“She encourages them, old ladies, that they should run, they should not eat wrong foods, and they should encourage their children also to take part in the Games,” Singh added.
She started running at the age of 93! For everyone who keeps including excuses for not running this is something to be inspired from!
And what is her secret to health – the usual – lots of exercises and a good diet. She never eats fried food and is a complete vegetarian.
Man Kaur is what life goals really should be – running and competing in international sporting events at the age of 100, with her 80-year-old son! And She stands as an inspiration to all of us !