Despite an exhausting journey home, Ramirez celebrated her success with family, friends, neighbors and even a mariachi band.
“We had a huge party in the house that lasted into the night. About 80 people turned up from all generations. There were babies to even people as old as 92,” she joked.
Ramirez not only has a team, but a whole league of supporters. Her family are the backbone and they alone consist of four generations – 15 children, 57 grandchildren, 192 great-grandchildren and 44 great-great grandchildren.
Two golds and a bronze was the tally for Maria Ramirez in the recent World Master Athletics Championships. Her daughter Rosa Maria (left) also won a silver in a younger age category.
“I have a very large family. But I am lucky all of them are very proud and supportive of my hobby. I think its because of them I have so much energy.”
Daughter Rosa Maria Bañuelos, encouraged by her mom’s success, even switched from avid track-side cheerleader to competing herself. Joining Ramirez at the World Masters, Bañuelos successfully brought home a silver medal for the 50-54 years 10km walk.
“It was such a great experience to share together. We trained together, traveled together, enjoyed Finland together, and won together,” said Bañuelos, who wore the same team suit as her mother.
Both mom and daughter are members of the Jalisco Family Development Agency (DIF) older adults’ team that impressively won 13 medals at the world championships. They train three times a week with coach Alejandra Lopez Palacios, who though friendly, maintains an authoritative demeanor.
“I am so pleased with how everyone did in the competition. We were only expecting six medals, so we doubled our expectations and more. Still, we need to start training again next week,” Palacios said firmly.
Ramirez is keen to get back on the track after a week’s rest. She is already planning on attending the 2011 World Master Athletics Championship in Sacramento, California.
“If I can do it there is no question I will be there. I just need to keep practicing and stay healthy,” she said.
When not training, Ramirez keeps herself busy with a multitude of other activities. She loves spending time with her family, runs a Mexican food business with her daughters, sings and dances both the polka and danzon. Though her voice is gentle, her character is vivacious and her handshake strong. Ramirez’s energy is infectious and her achievements awe-inspiring. What she has accomplished over the past 21 years was no “walk in the park.” However, she is a true testament to the fact that age should never stand in the path of ambition.
Anyone fancy a stroll? [rc]
Copyright Guadalajara Reporter 2009
August 22, 2009
MEXICO: 92-year-old athlete won’t let age knock her off track
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GUADALAJARA, Mexico / Guadalajara Reporter / Mexican Lifestyle / August 22, 2009
By Alina Eagle
Back in 1988, 72-year-old Maria Ramirez Bautista was as fit as she had ever been and full of energy. Not ready to kick back and accept “old age,” she instead decided to briskly walk (and sometimes even run) away from the advancing years by taking up competitive track.
Twenty-one years down the line, the medals adorning the now 92-year-old’s Guadalajara home give a whole new meaning to the phrase “the golden years.”
Ramirez is the proud owner of three world records, 202 national and 19 international medals. Her most recent accomplishment was winning two golds (the 5km and 10km walks) and one bronze (the 100m walk) at the 2009 World Master Athletics Championships in Lahti, Finland that took place July 28-August 8.
“I was so happy I won medals in all three of my events and I got to see beautiful Finland,” Ramirez said this week while proudly wearing her team tracksuit. “It was a great country, very green and full of beautiful lakes,” she told the Reporter.
Despite an exhausting journey home, Ramirez celebrated her success with family, friends, neighbors and even a mariachi band.
“We had a huge party in the house that lasted into the night. About 80 people turned up from all generations. There were babies to even people as old as 92,” she joked.
Ramirez not only has a team, but a whole league of supporters. Her family are the backbone and they alone consist of four generations – 15 children, 57 grandchildren, 192 great-grandchildren and 44 great-great grandchildren.
Two golds and a bronze was the tally for Maria Ramirez in the recent World Master Athletics Championships. Her daughter Rosa Maria (left) also won a silver in a younger age category.
“I have a very large family. But I am lucky all of them are very proud and supportive of my hobby. I think its because of them I have so much energy.”
Daughter Rosa Maria Bañuelos, encouraged by her mom’s success, even switched from avid track-side cheerleader to competing herself. Joining Ramirez at the World Masters, Bañuelos successfully brought home a silver medal for the 50-54 years 10km walk.
“It was such a great experience to share together. We trained together, traveled together, enjoyed Finland together, and won together,” said Bañuelos, who wore the same team suit as her mother.
Both mom and daughter are members of the Jalisco Family Development Agency (DIF) older adults’ team that impressively won 13 medals at the world championships. They train three times a week with coach Alejandra Lopez Palacios, who though friendly, maintains an authoritative demeanor.
“I am so pleased with how everyone did in the competition. We were only expecting six medals, so we doubled our expectations and more. Still, we need to start training again next week,” Palacios said firmly.
Ramirez is keen to get back on the track after a week’s rest. She is already planning on attending the 2011 World Master Athletics Championship in Sacramento, California.
“If I can do it there is no question I will be there. I just need to keep practicing and stay healthy,” she said.
When not training, Ramirez keeps herself busy with a multitude of other activities. She loves spending time with her family, runs a Mexican food business with her daughters, sings and dances both the polka and danzon. Though her voice is gentle, her character is vivacious and her handshake strong. Ramirez’s energy is infectious and her achievements awe-inspiring. What she has accomplished over the past 21 years was no “walk in the park.” However, she is a true testament to the fact that age should never stand in the path of ambition.
Anyone fancy a stroll? [rc]
Copyright Guadalajara Reporter 2009
Despite an exhausting journey home, Ramirez celebrated her success with family, friends, neighbors and even a mariachi band.
“We had a huge party in the house that lasted into the night. About 80 people turned up from all generations. There were babies to even people as old as 92,” she joked.
Ramirez not only has a team, but a whole league of supporters. Her family are the backbone and they alone consist of four generations – 15 children, 57 grandchildren, 192 great-grandchildren and 44 great-great grandchildren.
Two golds and a bronze was the tally for Maria Ramirez in the recent World Master Athletics Championships. Her daughter Rosa Maria (left) also won a silver in a younger age category.
“I have a very large family. But I am lucky all of them are very proud and supportive of my hobby. I think its because of them I have so much energy.”
Daughter Rosa Maria Bañuelos, encouraged by her mom’s success, even switched from avid track-side cheerleader to competing herself. Joining Ramirez at the World Masters, Bañuelos successfully brought home a silver medal for the 50-54 years 10km walk.
“It was such a great experience to share together. We trained together, traveled together, enjoyed Finland together, and won together,” said Bañuelos, who wore the same team suit as her mother.
Both mom and daughter are members of the Jalisco Family Development Agency (DIF) older adults’ team that impressively won 13 medals at the world championships. They train three times a week with coach Alejandra Lopez Palacios, who though friendly, maintains an authoritative demeanor.
“I am so pleased with how everyone did in the competition. We were only expecting six medals, so we doubled our expectations and more. Still, we need to start training again next week,” Palacios said firmly.
Ramirez is keen to get back on the track after a week’s rest. She is already planning on attending the 2011 World Master Athletics Championship in Sacramento, California.
“If I can do it there is no question I will be there. I just need to keep practicing and stay healthy,” she said.
When not training, Ramirez keeps herself busy with a multitude of other activities. She loves spending time with her family, runs a Mexican food business with her daughters, sings and dances both the polka and danzon. Though her voice is gentle, her character is vivacious and her handshake strong. Ramirez’s energy is infectious and her achievements awe-inspiring. What she has accomplished over the past 21 years was no “walk in the park.” However, she is a true testament to the fact that age should never stand in the path of ambition.
Anyone fancy a stroll? [rc]
Copyright Guadalajara Reporter 2009
