EDMONTON – Anne Black may be 80 years old, but don’t let her age fool you. She’s more active and competitive than most 20-somethings, and could probably outsprint many of us.
It wasn’t until she was about 56 that Black got into the sport of track and field. The late start hasn’t slowed her down when it comes to winning.
Last year at the Alberta Games, she earned four golds and a silver. She now has her sights set on bringing home more hardware from the 2014 Canada 55+ Games, being held in Strathcona County this summer.
The wins didn’t always come easy, though.
“In my junior years,” she says, “I was kind of a scrawny runt so I didn’t win anything. I just kept it up and did different activities.”
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She’s taken up everything from softball to bowling and curling over the years. Her secret to staying in shape over the winter lies in skiing, going to a seniors’ fitness club, and running on the treadmill with her loyal training partner, her dog.
“He loves it. If he knows I’m going down to the rec room to go on the treadmill, he’s right on my heels.”
Black will compete in the 50 and 100 metre sprints this August, as well as triple jump and long jump. As if that weren’t enough, she’ll also be performing in the opening ceremonies with her gymnastics team, the Dynamos.
The 80-year-old says her inspiration comes from her nearly 90-year-old friend, Hanna Andersen, who started doing gymnastics when she was 81.
“I want her to win all the time,” Andersen says, “and she will.”
Black is just happy she’s able to do what she does at her age.
“I didn’t think I’d live to 80!” she says with a laugh.
The Edmonton senior is our current Athlete of the Week.
With files from Quinn Phillips, Global News
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