The Pacemakers

Ready...set...

..go!

Yes, yes.

You are two seconds faster.

Normally you have four seconds.

I only started running when I was...

95.

And, um...

I'm 97 now and just sort of beginning to...

to realise how much I don't know.

Our next guest, two-time world record holder for his age group

in sprinting, four-time World Fitness Champion,

40 gold medals for World Masters Rowing.

He didn't begin sprinting until he was 95. That's right, 95.

He is now 97, he is a phenomenon,

although he doesn't like you saying that. He's Charles Eugster.

-Charles, good to see you.

-Delighted to be here.

OK. Stand by.

-Whenever you're ready, do your thing, Charles.

-OK.

This is Charles Eugster,

one of the most famous senior athletes in the world.

Yet his dream to become a sprinter only began two years ago.

We meet in France at the World Masters Championship.

It's like the Olympics - but for senior athletes.

He's in a category for people aged 95-100 and his opponent is this man,

Frederico Fischer - the oldest and fastest sprinter in the world.

SHE SHOUTS

-PA SYSTEM:

-And our new World Champion, Charles Eugster!

Charles says beating Fischer is one of the best moments of his life.

Suddenly, he's doing photo shoots,

TV interviews and he's got a book deal.

So, do you enjoy being considered the fittest OAP in the world?

Oh, of course.

Well, it's simply because, as I say, I'm consumed by vanity.

Being old is one of the most wonderful, sensational,

glorious, fantastic,

exciting parts of your whole life.

The next outdoor championship is set to take place in Perth, Australia.

Charles is promoting his book on tips for longevity,

and says he's too busy to go.

That leaves the door open for a new generation to make their own names

as sprinting legends.

In a little less than six weeks' time,

our very own 92-year-old athlete, Jim Sinclair, will be heading

to Perth to race for victory in the men's 100 metres sprint.

The Chinese delegation is sending Zhiyong Wang,

a long-distance runner who's also new to sprinting.

And from the United States - Dixon Hemphill,

who has the slowest recorded time at 28 seconds...

but extreme stamina.

Well, I've won most of the races in my age group.

Would you say you're quite competitive?

Yeah, definitely competitive. Yeah. I think most runners are.

I don't think they'd be out there if they weren't.

I've run 12 marathons,

60 triathlons, and hundreds of rowing races.

Over 40 years, you can run a lot of races.

I didn't find any 90-year-olds until I got into the national meets.

The local meets don't have any 90-year-olds around here.

Now I'm going into a world meet where there's real competition.

Wow! The time is fast. Is that right?

Sinclair, James....

19.89.

Delgado...

19.76. D-E-L-G-A-D-O.

Just write that down here, please.

I've put down...

..28 seconds, which is the slowest by far of these.

Hugo is the fastest. The time was 19.

That's awfully fast.

The win's not everything.

But it's nice. It's not everything.

If you're going there with just...

Just a single thought that, "I've got to win," well...

No.

You'd like to win.

What you've got to do is just do the best you can on the day.

Everything's got to be absolutely perfect

for you to run your absolute best.

Hugo Delgado from Peru,

yes, he's a very good runner.

-Have you ever beaten him before?

-No.

Perfect.

That's what...

Mr Delgado is.

A champion.

Right at the last little bit, he just went...

Right at the last little bit.

What was your time, Jim?

19.89.

How was that in relation to the other ones?

Not a great deal. 0.15 or something like that.

0.15 of a second? That's nothing!

No. The photograph says it's crossing the line,

all their feet are on the one line.

Jim, what would it mean to you to beat Hugo this year?

Well...

You've reached as good as you can be.

You've won the World Championship.

And it's...

Yeah... No, it would be a good feeling.

Well, I think it would be a good feeling. I've never won one!

HE LAUGHS

You can learn something new at any age,

and you can start a new life at any age.

And you have nothing to lose except the chains of convention.

What a 97-year-old record-breaker can teach us about getting older.

Thank you very much.

I'm running for my life.

Amongst other things.

I certainly believe that

if I was no longer running that my health would deteriorate.

Quite simple.

-How quickly do you think it would deteriorate?

-Oh, very fast.

They say one of the great advantages

of old age is that you die quicker.

That... You see, if you do get...

if you get seriously ill in old age,

you deteriorate very fast.

-How does that feel?

-It feels great!

It feels great.

Is it a bit scary to feel like you can't stop?

Oh, no. Not at all.

Not at all.

There are only two things that are sure in life,

and one of them is death and the other are taxes.

Perfect.

That's me when I was younger.

18, I suppose.

And that's my wife when we were first married.

Best thing that ever happened to me.

That's a more recent photo.

That's her sitting on the back.

We got married in 1947.

-INDISTINCT

-I get a bit...

Still. Still a bit emotional.

I suppose I thought we were both just going to go on for ever.

How long ago did she die?

Five years. Yeah.

The night before my birthday, so... Yeah.

She always used to say,

"You think you're Peter Pan.

"You think you're going to last for ever."

And I suppose I did.

You don't think about...

..what's going to happen at the end of the trail. And why would you?

I'd had a cough for well over a year,

and my time started to lengthen out a bit.

So that's why they did X-rays first.

And that's-that's it down there, I think.

-What is that?

-That's a shadow on the lung.

I made the mistake of looking at it on Google.

That's a big mistake.

I wish I hadn't looked at it now.

Because it's...it's terminal.

There's no cure. And...

the end stages aren't something to look forward to.

Because you end up that you can't breathe.

The thing is, you try to just keep,

as I said, keep doing what you're doing. And I'm doing that.

And if I get beaten it won't be an excuse.

Because I'm a firm believer,

in any competition, if you go into the competition, you go in there

knowing that if you've got something wrong with you, you don't expect

any advantages or people to be soft on you or anything else.

If you're on the track...

everything's equal.

I swing my legs back and forth a little.

In the 100,

the runners in their 90s are going to run in the same way.

You're running along, you see a man beside you,

you want to get ahead of him, if you can.

The World Championship in Australia is just a few weeks away.

All the sprinters in the 90-95-year-old age group

are training hard for the 100 metres.

In London, Charles, who's 97, has turned his attention to a new sport.

Bounce, bounce, bounce, bounce.

Five, four, three, two, one.

In the middle, down.

One.

-VOICEOVER:

-I would never compete for the sake of competing.

I would compete in order to win.

I like to be a winner.

Five, four, three, two, one.

OK, change.

This is Sylvia, Charles' Austrian coach.

Quick, quick, hop, hop, hop. Higher, up. Your heels, up, up.

She used to be an international gymnast and she's very competitive.

She encourages Charles to stay focused and think big.

And look on this side, look to me, look to this side.

Bigger steps.

Charles wants to show how much he can achieve at such a late stage

in life. He wants to be exceptional

so he's decided to start something new and very rare at his age -

the long jump.

OK, ready.

Hop. Ja.

Und jetzt ein bissel..

More energy, more power.

His aim is to break the indoor world record of 2.05 metres.

He's not going to the Masters Championship in Australia

but he is going to the Indoor World Championship in South Korea,

where he has his best shot at the record.

Go, go, go, go, go.

Yes!

More power.

Arms.

Maybe we both are crazy, a little bit crazy.

But...you see, it's possible.

If I told somebody half a year ago

that I'm starting long jump with a 97-year-old guy,

everybody touch their brain and say, "Oh, you cannot do it."

And why? Why should I not do it? It's possible, you see it.

This is the world record.

Don't get smaller in your steps.

Perfect, yeah.

OK.

You can take a drink and then we go to the mat.

In public, Charles can be a bit of a showman.

But at home it's different.

20 years ago, he retired from his job as a dentist.

15 years ago, he became a widow.

Since then, he's lived alone.

And when he isn't training with Sylvia

he often spends his time by himself in the flat.

I once asked him if anything could sway his passion for sport

and he said the only thing that might have an effect

would be finding love again.

I'm looking at a dating agency.

I'd like to point out that...

my age groups are seriously disadvantaged.

We get no jobs.

And the other thing is we've got no girlfriends because dating agencies

only produce...

young girls up to the age of 70.

Well, here's somebody. For example, she is 67.

She says she has a normal figure. Now, that's, of course...

Nobody really knows what that means.

No, I don't think that one is too old to fall in love.

Not at all.

What do you think love at 97 would look like?

HE LAUGHS

Look, I...

I have no idea.

I've never been 97 before in my life.

So I have no experience.

Therefore I cannot say.

If I know him, he...

he is always looking...

a little bit for a relationship, for his heart.

And focus only up...

Yes!

I'm really worried a little bit when he finds the moment

and fell in really big love again

to...

to change his mind for the training, for the competition.

Or he don't have so much time or so much focus to...

..to bring these performances.

Maybe it can interfere with all his goals.

OK, let me explain.

This blue line

is the best distance he jumped... 1.29.

And this, here...

I can put another blue one here.

This here should be the world record.

So... OK.

Go, go, go, go, go, go!

Jump! Yes! This was...

This would be... Das war gut.

Das ware der Weltrekord.

-Ja, nicht ganz.

-Oh, ja. Ich hoff', da is ein bissel mehr, ne?

Confirmed in my mind.

What's confirmed?

That he can do it in South Korea.

REPORTER: There's been a bit of a post-Olympic lull

but now a new group of competitors are gearing up

for the next major international tournament.

And this time they're all senior athletes.

In the coming weeks, Perth is hosting

the World Masters Athletics Championship,

and thousands of seniors from nearly 100 countries will be competing.

Louise Ronan reports...

-PA SYSTEM:

-Welcome to the Perth World Masters Championship.

Today, we have the men's 10K race about to start on track.

STARTING PISTOL

INAUDIBLE

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

It's a long journey to Australia

from just about every other country in the world.

And I've never been sure all the men in the 100 metres would make it.

And in the end, my worry proves right.

When I land in Perth, I receive an e-mail from Dixon's wife.

She says Dixon isn't well and has gone into hospital.

He will make a good recovery, but he won't make it to Perth.

You can't go through life without getting something wrong with you.

Who knows? You know, you'll sit down there and you're sitting down there

with six other fellas and you can bet pounds to peanuts

they've all got something wrong.

Take it easy, don't overdo it.

INDISTINCT, BREATHLESS REPLY

Eh?

Just go for a bit of a walk, if you want.

Jim doesn't know how to give up. He's a fighter.

He's done it for too long to give up.

HE LAUGHS

Who's your main competition, do you think, for this one?

Oh, definitely Delgado.

Hugo Delgado from Peru.

Because he won last year, so he's definitely the hardest one to beat.

I always like to win.

It's not the end of the world,

but I like to win and I'm disappointed when I don't win.

When you've got three or four people

that are possibly equal in abilities,

it's just what happens on the day.

And the winner, Hugo Delgado from Peru.

HE WHISTLES

Charles and Sylvia arrive in Daegu, South Korea,

ready to attempt the world record in the long jump.

I only started running at 95.

In old age, start something new, learn something new,

always learning, because it affects your brain.

He likes to have media always

and the people now came to us and say,

"Oh, can we have an interview with you?"

And he says, "Yes, yes, of course you can have."

No, they don't can have it. They can have it after the long jump.

But he says, "Yeah, come."

And then he loses focus on the championship.

Ready?

-VOICEOVER:

-Because we want to have success here.

I think it would be OK. Try now a little jump, only a little one.

But jump.

Do you think all this publicity you're getting

-might help you get a woman?

-Yes.

What I personally am hoping for is that all this publicity

will generate interest.

Older Masters female athletes.

I believe that it's possible to have something approaching a beach body

at the age of 90.

But in the old age group

there's nothing that looks attractive at all.

Is that disappointing?

Yes.

Look at this. God!

I don't want to be rude, but...

Jesus Christ.

Of course it's disappointing. It's terribly disappointing.

What about her with her arms in the air?

-This one?

-Mm-hm.

-Oh, come on!

I thought you meant this one.

I mean, she's got a terrific body,

but she's not 90.

When you come to these championships,

-do you always kind of keep an eye out for...?

-Why, of course.

Not only at the championships,

keep my eyes open all the time.

I think he will feel a little bit the pressure.

That he has to...

to win.

It's every time the same, if you...

if you are of a certain level of performance,

then to bring it always again, this high performance,

it's much more difficult.

If you came from somewhere else and then you go up, that's easy.

But if you are in this high level,

then it's difficult to hold this level.

I believe that he can do it.

But then he has to take his finger out of his ass and do something.

-PA SYSTEM:

-Next, we have the men's 100 metres final.

Superstar!

OK, gentlemen, follow me, please.

APPLAUSE

Lane two, Zhiyong Wang from China.

James Sinclair from Australia.

James, can you stand here for me, please?

Hugo Antonio aqui, por favor.

Aqui, aqui.

On your marks...

STARTING PISTOL FIRES

-Come and sit down and have a rest.

-Come and have a seat, guys.

Have a sit down.

INDISTINCT CHATTER

The silver medal is presented to James Sinclair,

representing Australia, with a time of 20.61.

The World Champion and gold medallist, representing Peru,

Antonio Hugo Delgado Flores.

Delgado gets him every time, just.

One of these days, he'll get him.

Do you think he'll beat Delgado one day?

If you ask Jim, he'll probably say, "No, he's too good."

I would like to think he will.

It's not any good complaining, just got to take things as they happen.

No, I'm satisfied.

I'll sleep well tonight.

I'll rephrase that - I'm not really satisfied!

Cos I like to win!

I don't think that anybody over the age of 85

had even attempted the long jump.

There's not even anybody at the age of 90

that has attempted the long jump in the whole of the United Kingdom.

DIALOGUE INAUDIBLE

INDISTINCT CHATTER

Charles hasn't broken the world record but,

as he has no competitors, he is, nonetheless, World Champion.

I like to be a winner.

But the most important thing that happened to me was I met this...

this young girl from

Kansas, in the United States,

who is only 79 years old.

And she was there and she's looking

and then I offered her the chair next to Charles, yeah,

and she sat down and it happens!

They're both talking and all these things and, yeah, it was...

it was really nice.

I'm 79.

Yeah. I know, you're a young girl.

Got your whole life ahead of you.

Well, I don't know. That is great.

Life begins at 90!

-VOICEOVER:

-And, believe it or not,

she gave me three kisses on the cheek.

Wow!

-You're a wonderful girl.

-Oh, well, thank you.

And is this your daughter?

No, that's my coach.

-That's your cousin?

-That's my coach.

-Oh, your coach!

Oh, my gosh! You have a... Well, you're lucky.

-You have a nice, cute little coach.

-Yeah, well, she...

-VOICEOVER:

-Caroline, this woman from Kansas,

she runs two seconds faster the 60 metres than Charles.

Maybe I can...

I can use her as...

..as something to give him some pressure.

SHE LAUGHS

Just a moment!

-You can kiss him, Caroline!

-OK, I can.

-OK.

-Yay!

You know, I just basically don't... We don't want to fall.

I have a race tomorrow, you know?

Yes, I know. I appreciate that but you are such an elastic person.

You are not a faller!

-I hope not.

-No, of course not. When did you last fall?

-When you practice, do you practice balance?

-No, I don't. I should.

This is how you balance yourself and run in place, all right?

-Concentrate.

-OK.

-All right.

Now, I've got to think about it.

Balance. All right, that's good for your balance.

I don't think I can do that.

Wait a minute, I got to get my balance again.

All right. All right.

Oh, here.

You've shown me something very important now.

-Balance.

-Yep.

-Balance.

-Balance.

That's really good for you.

Balance.

-God, you're great!

-See?

That's good for you.

What did you like about her?

Oh, well, what I liked about her was the fact that she seemed to like me,

that's what I liked about her.

I have so many different plans and ideas

that, obviously, I would like to share with somebody.

Doing something new, doing something different...

creating new ideas, and it would be, obviously,

of enormous benefit if there were, um...

..somebody else with me to do it.

Back from Korea, Charles mainly wanted to talk about Caroline

and was making plans to see her again.

He was also still in training for the long jump.

But a month later, I received a phone call.

Charles had been visiting London to attend a conference.

While there, he had suffered a heart attack.

He was taken to St Bartholomew's Hospital.

Two days later, he died.

BELL TOLLS

Being born and dying is...part of life.

I just have to take one day at a time

and that's it.

Because I find life so enjoyable.

He was part of my life.

But it's good for him because he...

..he goes away without pain,

and healthy.

It's...

it's this thing what he always,

always told us.

Move and live

until you go,

you have to pass.

He enjoyed his life.

# If everything you heard was something familiar

# How long before the boredom kills ya?

# How long before we go insane?

# How long before we take the next train?

# If everything you saw was something familiar

# How long before monotony kills ya?

# Maybe it's time to step outside

# You see, the only thing permanent is change

# La, la, la, la, la

# La, la, la, la, la

# La, la, la, la, la

# La, la, la, la, la

# Is change

# La, la, la, la, la

# La, la, la, la, la

-# Is change

-La, la, la, la, la

# La, la, la, la, la... #