© AAP
She added another gold medal, to her booty of six so far, at the Sydney World Masters Games on Friday, jumping 1.71m.
"The wind was horrible and cold," Kotelko told AAP.
"Last year I jumped 2.76m.
"The weather today took a metre away from me.
"It's not fair."
Olga is on track to win nine gold medals at the games.
"I've got the discuss this afternoon ... triple jump tomorrow and then the weighted pentathlon on Sunday," she said.
The Vancouver grandmother said she hopes others her age, will take a break from knitting jumpers and join the long jumpers on the athletics track.
"That's the name of the game, to inspire people... I'd love to have more competition," she said.
"I'm just trying to beat my records.
"I only started when I was 77."
She began her athletics career with a visit to the local high school library to read up on athletic events and borrow equipment.
"I go out to the high school to use their track to train, she said.
"I have a special exercise program I devised from myself which involves yoga, massage, reflexology and a lot of stretching."
The seventh of 11 children growing up in Saskatchewan, sport was always a big part of life on the farm, Olga said.
"I played slow pitch, softball," she said.
Olga's niece Mary Jane Trujillo, from Sydney, said Olga had incredible strength.
"She's the poster girl for the benefits of staying healthy and active," Trujillo said.
"No osteoporosis for her.
"Some people do sudoku, Olga competes overseas.
"She has good mental agility, she keeps track of her scores in her head.
"We're very proud, wouldn't you be?"
Olga will celebrate her 91st birthday next year by competing in 10 events on home soil at the World Masters Indoor Athletics Championship in Kamloops, British Columbia. [rc]
© 2009 AAP
October 16, 2009
CANADA: Kotelko still jumping for joy at 90
.
MELBOURNE, Victoria / The Age / Sports / October 16, 2009
By Lisa Martin, AAP
It seems you're never too old to play in the sand pit.
At 90-years-old, Canadian Olga Kotelko is the oldest known long jump competitor in the world.
© AAP
She added another gold medal, to her booty of six so far, at the Sydney World Masters Games on Friday, jumping 1.71m.
"The wind was horrible and cold," Kotelko told AAP.
"Last year I jumped 2.76m.
"The weather today took a metre away from me.
"It's not fair."
Olga is on track to win nine gold medals at the games.
"I've got the discuss this afternoon ... triple jump tomorrow and then the weighted pentathlon on Sunday," she said.
The Vancouver grandmother said she hopes others her age, will take a break from knitting jumpers and join the long jumpers on the athletics track.
"That's the name of the game, to inspire people... I'd love to have more competition," she said.
"I'm just trying to beat my records.
"I only started when I was 77."
She began her athletics career with a visit to the local high school library to read up on athletic events and borrow equipment.
"I go out to the high school to use their track to train, she said.
"I have a special exercise program I devised from myself which involves yoga, massage, reflexology and a lot of stretching."
The seventh of 11 children growing up in Saskatchewan, sport was always a big part of life on the farm, Olga said.
"I played slow pitch, softball," she said.
Olga's niece Mary Jane Trujillo, from Sydney, said Olga had incredible strength.
"She's the poster girl for the benefits of staying healthy and active," Trujillo said.
"No osteoporosis for her.
"Some people do sudoku, Olga competes overseas.
"She has good mental agility, she keeps track of her scores in her head.
"We're very proud, wouldn't you be?"
Olga will celebrate her 91st birthday next year by competing in 10 events on home soil at the World Masters Indoor Athletics Championship in Kamloops, British Columbia. [rc]
© 2009 AAP
© AAP
She added another gold medal, to her booty of six so far, at the Sydney World Masters Games on Friday, jumping 1.71m.
"The wind was horrible and cold," Kotelko told AAP.
"Last year I jumped 2.76m.
"The weather today took a metre away from me.
"It's not fair."
Olga is on track to win nine gold medals at the games.
"I've got the discuss this afternoon ... triple jump tomorrow and then the weighted pentathlon on Sunday," she said.
The Vancouver grandmother said she hopes others her age, will take a break from knitting jumpers and join the long jumpers on the athletics track.
"That's the name of the game, to inspire people... I'd love to have more competition," she said.
"I'm just trying to beat my records.
"I only started when I was 77."
She began her athletics career with a visit to the local high school library to read up on athletic events and borrow equipment.
"I go out to the high school to use their track to train, she said.
"I have a special exercise program I devised from myself which involves yoga, massage, reflexology and a lot of stretching."
The seventh of 11 children growing up in Saskatchewan, sport was always a big part of life on the farm, Olga said.
"I played slow pitch, softball," she said.
Olga's niece Mary Jane Trujillo, from Sydney, said Olga had incredible strength.
"She's the poster girl for the benefits of staying healthy and active," Trujillo said.
"No osteoporosis for her.
"Some people do sudoku, Olga competes overseas.
"She has good mental agility, she keeps track of her scores in her head.
"We're very proud, wouldn't you be?"
Olga will celebrate her 91st birthday next year by competing in 10 events on home soil at the World Masters Indoor Athletics Championship in Kamloops, British Columbia. [rc]
© 2009 AAP
