The Games Down Under
By Sean Callahan
The World Masters Games are slated to take place in Sydney, Australia, Oct. 10-18, 2009. The Games, which are usually held every four years (the most recent games took place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada in 2005), is an Olympic style event. In Sydney, 28 sports, ranging from swimming and soccer to rugby and baseball, will be contested. Shane O'Leary, the CEO of the 2009 World Masters Games Organizing Committee, will preside over a Games that likely will attract more than 25,000 athletes, age 25 and older. Two previous World Masters Games were held in Australia: Brisbane in 1994, which attracted 24,000 athletes, and Melbourne in 2002, which attracted 25,000 athletes. By way of contrasts, Portland, Ore., hosted the Games in 1998 and attracted less than 12,000 athletes. We asked O'Leary why Australia is such a Masters sports mad country, how he's attempting to lure Americans to the Games and about his own training regimen. . . . keep reading...>>
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Rowing across the Atlantic
By Brion O'Connor
Make no mistake: Leo Rosette is no disgruntled former employee of the U.S. government. The Massachusetts native knew the rules when he joined the U.S. Federal Marshals office: the job has a mandatory retirement age of 57. For more than two decades, Rosette carried out his duties as a deputy marshal, which included prisoner transfersand protection of federal judges. The 5-foot-10, 177-pound Rosette was a member of the marshal's Special Operations Group (similar to a SWAT unit) and, somewhat ironically, a fit test administrator. Then, in August of 2007, Rosette turned 57, handed in his badge and retired. But he wasn't going to be sedentary. Instead, Rosette rededicated himself to a longtime passion: rowing. Five mornings a week, he stops by the Riverside Boat Club on the Charles River in Boston to slip his scull into the water. This coming December, Rosette will embark on a 3,200-mile rowing journey across the Atlantic Ocean, from Spain's Canary Islands to Antigua. And he'll be doing it alone, under his own power. If successful, Rosette will be the fifth American -- and the oldest by a year -- to complete a solo trans-Atlantic crossing. . . . keep reading...>>
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The long run
By Brion O'Connor
DESPITE HIS LENGTHY LIST OF ACHIEVEMENTS, legendary marathoner Bill Rodgers is relucant to talk about himself. He'll downplay the accolades and awards, and even his ability. Until he steps up to the starting line. Rodgers' quiet, easy-going manner belies a keen competitive streak that propelled the Connecticut native to four Boston Marathon and four New York City Marathon titles in the late 1970s. The high point of Rodgers' career came in 1978, when he won 27 of the 30 races he entered, including the Pepsi 10,000-meter nationals (with a new world road 10K best time of 28:36.3) and the Boston and New York marathons. Now 60, Rodgers called upon those same competitive reserves to battle a new opponent, prostate cancer. We caught up with him recently, five months post-surgery. . . . keep reading...>>
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Living what she writes
By Wendy Booher
Gina Kolata writes the "Personal Best" column for the New York Times, a column that explores the science of exercise. Kolata, who has written "Rethinking Thin" and other books, turned 60 earlier this year and is discovering the joys of competitive age-group athletics. Born Feb. 25, 1948, Kolata celebrated her 60th birthday twice, and both involved running. Her first celebration included running up and down a four-mile path in Miami's South Beach with her marathoner son, Stefan. Her second was a tough eight-mile group run followed by dinner with friends and family back home in New Jersey. "You have to love exercise to do it regularly, and not everyone loves it," Kolata says. She is currently training for a marathon and took the time out from her busy schedule to discuss fitness and competition with Masters Athlete. . . . keep reading...>>
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Like father, like son
By Wendy Booher
Were it not for the 1980 Olympic boycott, then Norwegian Olympic cyclist Dag Selander never would have gone to race in Appleton, Wis., that year. Were it not for racing in Appleton, Selander never would have met his future wife. They never would have gotten married and had two sons, Dag and Bjorn, and there never would have been a U23 national cyclo-cross champion named Bjorn Selander. Dag Selander became hooked on bike racing as a junior in his native Norway and pedaled all the way to the pro ranks in races such as La Flèche Wallonne, the Tour of Spain and Amstel Gold. He also won gold in the team time trial at the Norwegian national championships in 1980. After his stay in Wisconsin, Selander moved to the United States in the early 1980s. He continued to race and is now recognized as one of the pioneers of American pro road racing along with Eric Heiden, Andy Hampsten, John Eustice, Davis Phinney and Bob Roll. . . . keep reading...>>
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Heiden at 50
By Wendy Booher
Eric Heiden is a man of firsts. First to earn five Olympic gold medals for the U.S. in a single Winter Games (Lake Placid, 1980), first to set four Olympic and one world record in a single Olympiad, first speed skater to receive the annual James E. Sullivan Award, first U.S. Pro champion bike racer, and first in so many races as an elite athlete. Heiden has mused about returning to competition as a Masters athlete. While he may not possess the sculpted thighs and conditioning of his Olympic days, there is something to fear about Heiden's return and it is this: in the past three decades, no one has been able to match Heiden's singular determination to achieve at the highest level of competition. A role model's model, Heiden is the guy that Lance Armstrong and Apolo Anton Ohno call for advice. As an orthopedic surgeon, Heiden says that his most significant achievement was his medical studies and not the five gold medals. (He practices in Murray, Utah, and is married with two young children). As an athlete about to turn 50, Heiden gave Masters Athlete his take on aging, exercise, and competition. . . . keep reading...>>
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Playing with fire
By Sean Callahan
New York City will host the World Police and Firefighter Games in 2011, the 10-year anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. The Games' CEO, Jim Carney, talks about preparations for the event. . . . keep reading...>>
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CEO on the run
By Sean Callahan
Molex CEO Martin Slark discusses running in the heat during the Chicago Marathon, his participation in the CEO Challenge marathon and how exercise helps him be a better executive. . . . keep reading...>>
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The comeback kid
By Sean Callahan
Super Bowl quarterback Joe Montana fights back against high blood pressure Joe Montana is arguably the best quarterback to ever throw a spiral. In college, Montana led Notre Dame to a national . . . keep reading...>>
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Executive decision
By Sean Callahan
Todd Smith, the first executive director in the 37-year-history of U.S. Masters Swimming, shares some of his plans for the organization. . . . keep reading...>>
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A nose for cycling
By Wendy Booher
Noted bike designer Keith Bontrager discusses his love for 24-hour mountain bike racing, making bikes for Lance Armstrong and how marinara and bike design are related. . . . keep reading...>>
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The gospel according to Mathews
By Sean Callahan
Since resigning last year as the chair of USA Track & Field's Masters committee, George Mathews has been speaking out on, among other things, why Masters track should consider leaving USA Track and Field and align itself with the National Senior Games. Association. . . . keep reading...>>
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Dreaming of Daytona
By Sean Callahan
James Hylton is 72 and still racing stockcars. The one time NASCAR Rookie of the Year (circa 1966) wants one more crack at Daytona, so he has a sponsor and a car and is trying to qualify for the 2007 race. . . . keep reading...>>
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Wounded Warrior
By Sean Callahan
Kirk Bauer, 58, lost his left leg above the knee when he was hit by a grenade in Vietnam in 1969. He was 21 years old. Today, Bauer credits a nascent skiing program for disabled vets with eradicating his depression and turning his life around. First as a volunteer and now for the past 25 years as executive director of Disabled Sports USA, Bauer is an evangelist for the healing power of sports for those with disabilities. . . . keep reading...>>
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Marathon Man
By Steve Boman
Dick Beardsley is best known for his "Duel in the Sun" with Alberto Salazar in the 1982 Boston Marathon, a battle that Beardsley lost by mere seconds. The marathoner's most important win, however, was his personal victory over his addiction to painkillers. Beardsley, 50, is now a fishing guide and motivational speaker. He also continues to run. His best recent Masters marathon time was 2:43:58. . . . keep reading...>>
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