The Masters Meet

I would like to share this on beBee.

I take part in Masters Track and Field Athletics.  Today was the South African Masters Athletics championships. I went there to compete with the goal of winning a medal (which I did). I had my sight on that medal from early this morning. 

But what did I really see?

I saw an 87 year old man running the 100 m sprint, far behind the others but smiling at the sheer joy of being able to run. His son had to hold him upright afterwards so exhausted was he;  but he never stopped smiling.

I saw an 83 year old lady, sprinting along the straight with a poise and elegance that can only come from years of training. Watching the natural ability of Usain Bolt is riveting. Watching this lady is mesmerizing.

I saw a mother, her attention torn between wanting to see her husband compete and her little toddler clambering all over the chairs of the pavilion. Naturally, the blond little boy won the attention contest. By far.

Yet another mother had a camping table set up with coloring books to keep her three young daughters busy while she was taking part in her chosen events. The girls were completely content and happy sitting around the table chattering and coloring, oblivious to mum zipping down the track on the way to her third medal.

I saw a man, who was a world class athlete back when we were both at university and still today, tear a muscle in a final race and drop from first position to last in a mere two seconds. He finished the race painfully hobbling along to the finish line, and afterward immediately walked up to the winners to give them a congratulatory handshake. No bitterness. No reproach. That is true world class.

I bumped into a friend I had last seen at school; the toughest ever. I recall him breaking his rib in a rugby game and still playing on. The years have made him heavier and rounder – he is now a giant of a man. His wife holds two national pole-vault records. He adores her, he sits close by when she competes, he carries her bags, she smiles up to him often, her supports her totally. What a beautiful sight. 

I saw people from ages 30 to 90, happy to be active, enjoying friendly rivalry, soaking up the outdoors (literally, as heavy rains fell) and thankful to be of good enough health to take part the oldest sport on earth.

What a wonderful day.