100-year-old California man sets 5 world records

Don Pellmann, 100, set five world records in track and field at the San Diego Senior Olympics on Saturday.

And that’s only one of his accomplishments at the event.

Oh, and his pre-performance meal?

To the astonishment of the crowds at the meet, he then proceeded to etch his name into the history books as arguably the world’s most athletic centenarian.

Bill Harvey lent Pellman his discuss, which he used to set the new world record.

“It was a real struggle, but I made it”, Pellmann said.

Don Pellmann checks out his hardware after winning five events at the San Diego Senior Games.

“It’s a poor day because I should have got that pole vault, too”, he said.

Only well into his retirement did he start competing in athletics again.

His first throw in the shot put instantly set a record – landing at 21ft, 6in, it beat the previous mark by three feet. He crushed the age-100-plus record of 29.83 seconds by Japan’s Hidekichi Miyazaki by almost three seconds (26.99) while wearing basic tennis sneakers instead of spiked sprinters. I was not anxious about medals but I’ve got more medals than I know what to do with.

Even after he had successfully set five world records, Pellmann didn’t seem thrilled about his performance – he merely accepted the results and was ready to go home.

According to The Times of San Diego, the Santa Clara resident set a record with the long jump when he leapt 1.78 meters.

His “clodhopper” tennies were legally modified: He had cut out a hole to make room for a bothersome bunion.

Pellman was a former gymnast and high jumper. He turned 100 in August, and hadn’t competed in two years.