88-year-old Japanese woman breaks her own record as world's oldest cross-country skier
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Vienna: At the age of 88, a Japanese athlete has achieved a feat that has astonished the world - breaking her own Guinness World Record by actively participating in the cross-country skiing 2023 Masters World Cup, held this year in Austria.
The extraordinary journey of Katsumi Saeki began with her participation in the Japan Masters Championships in 2022.
Born on March 3, 1935, Katsumi became the world's oldest competitive female cross-country skier, a distinction officially recognised by Guinness World Records. Now, at 88 years and 16 days, Katsumi has taken her passion for skiing to the global stage, demonstrating her spirit by competing in the 2023 Masters World Cup in Austria.
Participating as the sole contender in the over-85 category, Katsumi not only demonstrated her grit and determination but also clocked faster timings in her two events compared to some of the younger contestants.
In the classic-style 5 km event, Katsumi completed the challenging course in a remarkable time of 26 minutes and 18 seconds. Impressively, her timing outperformed that of competitors in the 81-85, 76-80, and 71-75 age categories.
During the 5 km freestyle event, Katsumi exhibited exceptional prowess, completing the race in an impressive 29 minutes and 4 seconds. This feat again surpassed the timings of participants in the 81-85 and 76-80 age categories.
The Guinness World Records took note of Katsumi's remarkable achievement, remarking that her "ability to continue participating at her grand old age is a testament to her enduring physical health and immense core body strength."
With the next edition of the Masters World Cup scheduled to be held in Finland in February 2024, enthusiasts and admirers eagerly anticipate Katsumi's participation, fully confident that she will continue to break barriers and extend her extraordinary record.