Mastering The Track – World Masters Games 2017 New Zealand

In 2017, The World Masters Games will be held in Auckland and the Waikato, from April 21 – 30. The World Masters Games take place every four years, with regional games in between. Next year marks the first time New Zealand has hosted the multi-sport event, where the average age of competitors is 42.

However, all eyes are likely to be on the oldest entrant, 100 year old Man Kaur of India, who took out three gold medals at the 2016 American Masters Games. Ms Kaur took up running at the ripe old age of 93, on the advice of her son, and her training consists of running up to 20km per day. She also competes in the javelin and shotput, for which she won gold at the American Masters Games, and her third medal came in the 100 metre dash.

Her energy and drive  is considered an inspiration to all women in her native India and her success has led to an international following. Her 78 year old son Gurdev Singh says that “winning makes her happy.” He encouraged her to start running because he knew she would be a star. “I told her, ‘You have no problem, no knee problem, no heart problem, you should start running.’”

While out training, she tries to enlist other older runners. “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,” says Singh.

To date, Ms Kaur has won more than 20 medals in Masters Games events around the world, and attributes her longevity and good health to a good diet and lots of exercise. She says, “There is no secret to running at 100, it’s not some magic herb that you take and you become fit overnight. The same basic aspects that work for an athlete or even a normal person at a younger age, works at my age as well. A healthy diet and good exercise, I do not take any extra protein as it could be harmful at my age. I run almost 20 kms a day once in the morning then evening, it’s become a lifestyle for me. Earlier I had the worst diet, but when I was 93, I was diagnosed with a heart problem. Since then, I decided I will live life on my own terms and the terms are to prove to myself that I can become an athlete.”

Next year, her aim is to hear her beloved Indian anthem while she is on the podium. We wish her well!