Hooray For “Old” Female Olympians
The Olympics is primarily populated by young people. When it comes to the sports of athletics, cycling, gymnastics and swimming, you’re over the hill when you turn 25. But a number of women have ignored conventional wisdom and are now Olympians in 2008. Post motherhood.
German Oksana Chusovitina is 33 and has been a gymnast for 20 years. When I saw her competing amongst the pre-pubescent girls that dominate in her sport, I was just so thrilled. One for us old chicks.
Ditto with 41 year old Dara Torres who won a medal as part of the US 4×100m relay and also came second in the 50m freestyle final. I’ve seen some suggest that she may be flagrantly using drugs. I must admit, it’s possible… but I can’t help but cheer for her anyway.
And what about Romanian Constantina Dita-Tomescu who won the women’s marathon. 38 years old and she just blitzed them. Amazing.
French cyclist Jeannie Longo only just missed winning a medal in her event. “When I race I don’t feel like I’m 50, I don’t race with a calendar. I had never felt as much power in me,” she said.
Articles:
Age no barrier for Olympics oldest gymnast
Why we cheer for Olympians (Oksana photo taken from that page)
Everybody in the pool: Dara Torres inspires older women
Regret for Longo, 49, as she misses podium
Torres has new reason to seek gold
August 17th, 2008 at 12:47 pm
Wonderful story…
The Wikipedia link for Jeannie Longo is:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeannie_Longo
Now who will do a piece on the older men?