Thai athlete, 105, unmatched not lonely

Thailand’s Sawang Janpram, the oldest competitor on the 2025 World Masters Video games at 105 years outdated, competes throughout the males’s shot put for the 100+age group in Taipei on Might 22, 2025. (Photograph by I-Hwa Cheng / AFP) /

Sawang Janpram is in a league of his personal on the World Masters Video games in Taiwan — at 105 he’s the oldest competitor and the one individual in his age group.

It meant that Thailand’s Sawang was all however sure to win gold within the males’s 100-plus discus, javelin, shot put and 100 meters.

All he needed to do was end, and the previous faculty principal reached the 100m line in his solo race in a really respectable 38.55 seconds.

“I’m proud he’s introduced honor to our household,” his 73-year-old daughter Siripan, a fellow evergreen athlete, advised AFP.

They’re amongst 25,950 athletes from 107 nations on the two-week World Masters Video games in Taipei.

Held each 4 years, the occasion brings collectively rivals aged 30 and over from all walks of life for the sheer pleasure of collaborating.

Thailand’s Sawang Janpram, the oldest competitor on the 2025 World Masters Video games at 105 years outdated, wins gold medal within the males’s shot put for the 100+age group, in Taipei on Might 22, 2025.. (Photograph by I-Hwa Cheng / AFP)

This 12 months’s version is greater than twice as large because the 2024 Paris Olympics when it comes to competitor numbers.

Sawang, a father of 5, started exercising on the age of 90, impressed by Siripan and a want to keep away from turning into bedridden like his pals.

Three to 4 instances every week, Sawang joins his daughter to trot on a seashore close to their house in Rayong in japanese Thailand.

“I generally prefer to stroll, generally run,” stated Sawang, peering at AFP by aviator sun shades as he defined his coaching routine. “Typically I do javelin throw, relying on what I’ve to do for competitions.”

Different instances, Sawang stated he simply goes to the native market.

It’s proved to be a profitable technique, with the wiry centenarian profitable greater than 60 medals on the masters circuit.

Sawang added 4 extra golds to his assortment this week.

‘Train makes life higher’

Thailand’s Sawang Janpram, the oldest competitor on the 2025 World Masters Video games at 105 years outdated, competes throughout the males’s shot put for the 100+age group in Taipei on Might 22, 2025. (Photograph by I-Hwa Cheng / AFP) /

A smattering of spectators was within the stadium as Sawang competed within the shot put, his final occasion of the Video games.

Earlier than the primary throw, Sawang lined up with different sprightly shot putters within the 80+, 85+ and 90+ age teams to be launched.

Sporting knee braces, Sawang threw greater than 4 meters on every of his 5 makes an attempt, drawing cheers and claps from the youthful athletes.

Siripan, who additionally received two gold medals and a silver in her throwing occasions, joined her father on the rostrum after he obtained his fourth gold.

“I’m so happy with my father that he can nonetheless do that and that he’s sturdy,” Siripan stated. “Folks admire him wherever he goes.”

The subsequent World Masters Video games might be in Japan in 2027 after it was postponed twice throughout Covid-19.

Whether or not he competes there or in one other masters occasion might be “as much as my well being”, Sawang stated.

Earlier than athletics, Sawang used to work on his farm, the place he grew durian and rubber timber.

Now he simply focuses on sport.

“Train makes our life higher and we get to satisfy pals who additionally train,” Sawang stated. “It’s like our lives are livelier and we don’t really feel lonely at house.”