It’s no wonder that Italy, which has the oldest population in the European Union with one in four people over 65, has the world’s fastest female sprinter at 90 years old.
Emma Maria Matzenga set a new world record in the over-90 age group this month by running 200 meters outdoors in 51.47 seconds.
Born on August 1, 1933, Mazzenga is one of the unsung heroes of Italian track and field, currently competing in various categories of the Masters Sprint (a competitive race for older runners organized by age group). , holds five world records, nine European records and 28 Italian best results.
“I’m very happy and satisfied,” Matzenga said after achieving the new record, breaking the record of 53.35 seconds set by Japan’s Emiko Saito on May 5. “And I didn’t think I could run that fast. So I’m a little surprised,” he said humbly. In 2022.
The women’s 200-meter world record is one of the oldest recorded track and field records, set in 1988 by the late American athlete Florence Griffith Joyner in a time of 21.34 seconds. At that time she was 28 years old.
The world masters track and field record for women over 50 years old is held by Merlene Otti of Jamaica and Slovenia at 24.33 seconds, and the record for women over 70 years old is 31.30 seconds held by Ingrid Meyer of Germany.
The record for a woman over 100 years old is 1 minute 29.79 seconds, held by American Diane Friedman.
Like many athletes, Mazenga follows a strict ritual when racing. I run without socks and never wear the same shoes I wear for training.
She also likes to celebrate her successes by having a beer with her fellow runners, even though she usually has no direct competitors in the W90 category.
“My goal is to get a good time because I know from the start that if I have no competition, I can win,” she says, proudly displaying the trophy in her living room, a day after setting her latest world record. He spoke while brushing.
She ran for office as a young woman but stopped voting for many years after getting married and having children. Her running career as a Masters athlete, which began at the age of 53, was an important consolation for Matzenga in her later years.
“It got me through some difficult times, and of course it was essential in a life as long as mine,” she said.
By running, she added, “I’m never alone because I’m always surrounded by so many people.”
Her next goals include the Italian Championships starting in June, and she’s also eyeing the World Championships in Sweden next year, but Mazzenga joked: “I don’t want to make any long-term plans.” Said.
