Man Kaur: The Centenarian Sprinter Who Defies All Conceptions Around Old Age

Often we hear people saying that - Age is Just a Number and this adage has been proved by several strong-willed souls and Man Kaur is one such strong-spirited woman. She has refuted all conceptions around age to become the oldest and the fastest centenarian woman athlete in India.

Kaur is an inspiration for the masses. She turned to athletics to find a new purpose to live by. According to Kaur, there is no age limit in trying out something new. In an interview with The Hindu, she said, "Mujhe sports pasand hai, aur har kudi ko accha khana kha na hai aur khel khud me bhag na hai” (I like sports and every girl child should eat healthy food and participate in sporting activity). She further went on to say, “Changa daud raha hu, ruk na kyun bhai” (I am running well, why should I stop?). Kaur's relentless efforts paved her way to numerous awards and laurels.

Also Read: Centenarian Sprinter Man Kaur to be Awarded Nari Shakti Puraskar

10 Things You Should Know About The Centenarian Champion

• Man Kaur, 104, is a resident of Patiala and has won 31 international gold medals and over 13 national medals.
• Kaur was motivated by her athlete octogenarian son Gurdev Singh (83) who is now a regular in the Masters meet (veterans). She stepped into the world of athletics at the age of 93.
• She has broken various records. At the American Masters Meet in 2016, she clocked 1.21 minutes in the 100-metre sprint. In New Zealand she bettered it to 1.17 minutes in 2017.
• Man Kaur has an unmatchable learning spirit. Kaur not only draws inspiration from her son but also learns from him. For her, Gurdev is her coach and trainer. Furthermore, Singh takes care of Kaur's diet and training.
• Kaur has two sons and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren but there is nothing that stops her from trying out and challenging her physical endurance.
• 104- year-old Man Kaur was also conferred with the prestigious Nari Shakti Puraskar(the highest civilian honour for women) on 8th March 2020, i.e on International Women’s Day by the government of India.
•  She is the oldest person in the world to walk along the top of Auckland’s Sky Tower. Moreover, she has also won medals in Javelin throw and Shot Put.
•  The sprinter Kaur is very devoted and wakes up at 4 am every morning for training. In addition to that, the 104-year-old athlete Man runs a distance of about 20 kilometers every day. She also trains in the gym.
•  Kaur believes in encouraging running as a recreational activity among other old women too. In an interview, his son said, "She encourages the old ladies that they should run, they should not eat the wrong food, and they should encourage their children also to take part in the Games."
• In an interview, she revealed her fitness mantra, "Start the day with a glass of kefir and have chapatis made of sprouted wheat. No fried food.”

Man Kaur continues to shatter stereotypes. She is continually  proves that one can achieve newer things in life at any age.

Also Read: Challenging All Age Barriers, At 103 Man Kaur Clinches Gold In Shot Put

Sanskriti Tiwari is an intern with SheThePeople.TV.