SYDNEY - A 99-year-old Australian great-grandmother is training for the World Masters Games in Sydney, where she will turn heads as the oldest athlete.
SYDNEY - A 99-year-old Australian great-grandmother is training for the World Masters Games in Sydney, where she will turn heads as the oldest athlete.
Sprightly Ruth Frith, who is near-blind, will compete in five events at the seniors event in Sydney in October, by which time she will be 100.
"Why is the focus on me, just because you're going to be 100? I didn't do anything to be 100. I just grew. I just think life is living your own life and living it to the full," she said.
Records
Since turning 85, Frith, who says she doesn't believe in diets and "all that jazz", has held world records for her age group in the shot put, discus, javelin, hammer, long jump, triple jump and 100m. She achieved 10,90m in 2006 in the discus - the world record is 76,80m.
Frith began competing in the quadrennial Games at 74 and will appear in Sydney alongside her daughter, former Olympic athlete Helen Searle.
"If you ever see creaky knees and grey-haired people walking around an oval or trying to throw, please don't laugh," she said.
99-year-old trains for Games
SYDNEY - A 99-year-old Australian great-grandmother is training for the World Masters Games in Sydney, where she will turn heads as the oldest athlete.
SYDNEY - A 99-year-old Australian great-grandmother is training for the World Masters Games in Sydney, where she will turn heads as the oldest athlete.
Sprightly Ruth Frith, who is near-blind, will compete in five events at the seniors event in Sydney in October, by which time she will be 100.
"Why is the focus on me, just because you're going to be 100? I didn't do anything to be 100. I just grew. I just think life is living your own life and living it to the full," she said.
Records
Since turning 85, Frith, who says she doesn't believe in diets and "all that jazz", has held world records for her age group in the shot put, discus, javelin, hammer, long jump, triple jump and 100m. She achieved 10,90m in 2006 in the discus - the world record is 76,80m.
Frith began competing in the quadrennial Games at 74 and will appear in Sydney alongside her daughter, former Olympic athlete Helen Searle.
"If you ever see creaky knees and grey-haired people walking around an oval or trying to throw, please don't laugh," she said.