Tuesday, June 12, 2012

World's oldest triathlete and Olympic torch-bearer Arthur Gilbert finishes 41st race at age of 91 - @thisissomnews

The world’s oldest triathlete was celebrating yesterday after completing his 41st race – aged 91.

Hardy Arthur Gilbert, who carried the Olympic Torch through Minehead, Somerset, last month, has taken part in 41 events which involve swimming, cycling and running.

  1. Arthur Gilbert, aged 91

    Pensioner Arthur Gilbert is Britain's oldest triathlete. Despite his age, Arthur sticks to a rigorous training regime

  2. Arthur Gilbert

    Pensioner Arthur Gilbert is Britain's oldest triathlete. Despite his age, Arthur sticks to a rigorous training regime

The grandfather, from Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset, raced through his home town’s Burnham Sprint Triathlon on Sunday in two hours, 47 minutes and 22 seconds.

Mr Gilbert’s rigorous training regime includes going to the gym twice a week, cycling 25 miles every Sunday and swimming 50 lengths of his local pool every morning.

Speaking after the race, he said: “It was really tough. As the years go by it gets harder and harder, you do go backwards as you get older.

“But you have to do it before you get too old.”

Mr Gilbert was handed the title of the world’s oldest triathlete in December last year by The World Records Academy, having completed his 40th triathlon.

Arthur began competitive racing after retiring from his job at the Westland Helicopter plant in Weston-super-Mare, where he commuted the daily 20-mile journey on his bike.