Emma Maria Mazzenga, a 90-year-old retired chemistry professor from Veneto, Italy, has recently become a global sensation after breaking the world record for the 200m race in her age category.
Mazzenga accomplished this remarkable feat at an indoor event in Padua, Italy, finishing the race in an impressive 54.57 seconds, surpassing the previous record of 1:00.72 held by Olga Kotelko of Canada for 13 years.
The inspiring moment, captured on video, went viral on social media and has garnered widespread attention. Many online users expressed their amazement at Mazzenga’s incredible achievement, with social media comments describing her efforts as “incredible” and “marvelous.
In an interview with Vogue Italia, Mazzenga revealed that despite her success, she wasn’t entirely satisfied because the previous year, she had finished the 200m in less than 50 seconds.
Mazzenga’s dedication and determination stem from a lifelong passion for running, which she developed during her university days back in 1956.
Mazzenga’s running journey continued even after facing personal challenges, such as the loss of her husband in the early 1980s. She remained resilient and committed to her passion, even running secretly around her house during the COVID-19 lockdown.
Now, at the age of 90, Mazzenga continues to embrace an active lifestyle.
She starts each morning with a walk alongside her friend, incorporating biking into her routine between walks and runs.
Her philosophy, as shared with Vogue Italia, is simple yet powerful: never stop.
Mazzenga set her record-breaking time at the age of 90, achieving a speed of around 13 km/hr or 4:30 min/km pace for the 200m distance. What makes her accomplishment even more astounding is the fact that she began training just a month before the race following a sternum fracture.
Looking ahead, Mazzenga has her sights set on upcoming challenges, including the Italian Masters Championships in Ancona and the European Championships in Torun, Poland, scheduled for March.
Despite already setting a world record, she remains humble and confident in her ability to achieve even faster times in the future.
Mazzenga’s story serves as an inspiring reminder that age is not a barrier to pursuing passions and breaking records.
