Proving that age is just a number, an 82-year-old grandfather broke the national age group record in the 80m hurdles at the 2026 China Athletics Championships.
At an event held in Changsha this month, the almost white-haired Ding Ming stood at the starting line wearing light sports clothes, his posture slightly stooped but firm.
As soon as the starting gun went off, he blasted away with a fast and steady pace, clearing obstacles with a high efficiency that defied his advanced years.
After 16.73 seconds, Ding, a retired mechanic who maintains his fitness through passion, won his 2024 national record in the men’s 80-84 age category, drawing cheers from the crowd.
“When I was running, I didn’t know I could break the record,” Ding said, attributing his high performance to a calm mind.
“I’ve never competed for standards. I’m just looking to have fun, meet like-minded friends, and be healthy. That’s enough.”
