I heard an interview with Bruce Grierson about his upcoming book on Olga Kotelko. I wanted to read this book because I was so impressed with Olga’s legacy – 30 world records to her name and more than 750 gold medals.
Olga was a 95-year-old Canadian track star who smashed records in every event she entered. She died in June 2014. What’s really inspiring is when she started competing – at 77 years old. That’s right, SEVENTY-SEVEN years old. You may remember Olga carried the Olympic torch in Vancouver in 2010.
I can’t help but chuckle and think about all the people I know who use the I’m too old excuse to try something new. That’s crap. Olga proves if a nonagenarian can do it, you can do it.
So as things go I forgot about the book until last week when I noticed it on display at the local library. I delved into it straight away. I am familiar with author and journalist Bruce Grierson’s work so I knew the writing would not disappoint.
Olga was born on the farm in Vonda, Sask., one of 11 children. Her early life was spent in Saskatchewan where she got married but eventually left her husband when she was pregnant with her second child. She fled to British Columbia to live with her sister. She earned a teaching degree at night while raising her two daughters.
After Olga retired from teaching, she took up softball only to leave it for track and field because she wanted something more challenging. The rest, as they say, is in the record books.
Grierson befriends Olga and accompanies her to competitions in the book. While the book about Olga, Grierson is ever-present with his own struggles with aging. At one point the middle-aged author amusingly runs the 10,000 metre at one of the master’s events.
He’s also with Olga as she undertakes a battery of tests to determine what makes her such a medical mystery. There’s lots of interesting science on aging in this book. But don’t let that put you off, if your brain is not wired for science. It’s actually quite interesting. A final chapter is devoted to rules for living from keep moving and create routines to begin now.
Both engaging and insightful, this book provides a fascinating glimpse into the shelf life of aging.
Read it if you’re in the need of inspiration or you are thinking about your own shelf life.
This sounds like a really interesting book! Thanks for sharing it. I’m going to add it to my to-read list.
BTW, you should link this post up with my book club post for the month! Any book is welcome!
Wendy@Taking the Long Way Home recently posted…Book review: Fast Girl: Running From Madness by Suzy Favor Hamilton