By: Melita Horvat |
What Can We Learn From Olga Kotelko? |
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Don't focus on your age, focus on the way you live your life.
This is the message of one of the most interesting, famous person in the world of sports.
Olga Kotelko was legendary Canadian teacher and holder of more than 750 golden medals in athletics.
Olga Kotelko (2nd March 1919 – 24th June 2014) was a Canadian athlete and a teacher who is remembered by her family, friends, colleagues and the world of sports as a tireless, strong and wise woman.
The thing that distinguishes her from most of the other athletes is her life age in which she accomplished same as with all of her sport results.
She started her active training later in life – after retirement when she was 65 years old.
That fact made all of her accomplishments even more astonishing and that is why she was admired and respected all over the world.
Until her 95th birthday, she won more than 750 golden medals and set over 30 world records in athletic in her age group.
Impressive, isn't it?
Young at Heart Despite Her Age
Her results were the subject of many discussions and analysis which were combined in the book by Bruce Grierson "What Makes Olga Run?”
According to them, the crucial factor of Olga's success was her attitude: "Olga thinks of herself as still growing and therefore she constantly tries to learn and progress.”
Olga Kotelko was living her dream. She used her own energy to move the limits, at the same time enjoying what she was doing.
Her life is also a confirmation of many scientific researches that people get smarter and stronger by aging and that our personal attitudes can affect the vitality and process of aging.
Mere feeling that we are younger than our real age can slow the process of aging.
Olga was also confirming this conclusion. She believed the key to her success was in the way she lived and understood life.
I would rather consider myself as an athlete, young-at-heart than an old woman.
I decided to remain athlete and I don't want to end up in a rocking chair.
Old age thought me the following - I have learned when you truly embrace the ageing process, you feel stronger and more confident, and you start to age gracefully. – Olga Kotelko
She considered that the main precondition for happiness, energy and good health at any age is optimism and regular exercise.
Olga Kotelko’s strength, endurance and the way of life inspired many to find their own source of strength and to overcome the most difficult obstacles in life.
Fighter Through Her Whole Life
Olga Kotelko (Shawaga) was born on March 2 1919 on a farm in Saskatcewan, as the seventh of 11 children of Ukrainian immigrants Wasyl and Ann Shawaga.
She passed her childhood in education and doing hard physical work on the farm that included milking the cows, harvesting grains and planting vegetables.
In 1941 after finishing her education she started her teaching career.
According to some testimonies, even then she was inspiring her students and teaching them life enthusiasm, wisdom, positive attitude towards life as well as love for people, nature and health.
In 1943 she was married to John Kotelko, but 10 years later, unsatisfied with her marriage and abusive character of her husband she moved to New Westminster, British Columbia.
She dedicated herself to her job and raising her two daughters Nadine and Lynda.
After retiring at the age of 65, encouraged by one of her daughters to become more active, she engaged herself in yoga, Thai chi, aqua fitness, bowling and softball.
At the age of 77 she started her athletic career where she found fulfilment and remained active until death.
Beside sports she remained faithful to her two other favorite activities - gardening and cooking for which she always found time.
She died on June 24 2014 at the age of 95 in Lions Gate Hospital in northern Vancouver from brain hemorrhage.
Astonishing Sport Achievements
Even though she loved sport, she was not very active at young age.
At that time her only sport activity was baseball.
After retiring her rich and successful sport's career started.
She competed for the first time in 1997 in Arizona.
She competed in her first international masters competition with the 75-79 age group. She entered the javelin event and threw 15 feet farther than the second place finisher.
I felt as like an angel had picked up my javelin and carried it there.
The following sport results showed that golden medal that she won in her first competition was not a beginner’s luck.
Due to endurance, good will and hard work she continued to win and receive medals till death at age 95.
Wishing for something won’t make it happen, you have to work for it. – Olga Kotelko used to say to her friends, family, colleagues and also many journalist who faithfully followed her.
At the 13th WAVA (World Association of Veteran Athletes) World Championships in Gateshead, England in 1999 in the "W80" category, she broke two world records and won six gold medals.
At the World Masters Games in Sydney in 2009, she broke a world record for her age group (90–95 years) in the hammer throw and the 100 metre race.
During 2009 she set 20 world records.
She carried the Olympic torch in Vancouver in 2010 at the opening ceremony of the XXI Winter Olympic Games.
That same year, at age 91 she was described as the world’s oldest known long jump competitor.
She competed in the following disciplines:
- ong jump
- high jump
- riple jump
- shot put
- discus
- javelin
- 100-meters, 200-metres and 400-metres relay sprints
The Key to Success is Wisdom and Endurance
Advice and guidelines given by Olga Kotelko during her life for maintaining vitality and energy are simple and wise.
She collected them in her book: "Olga: The O.K. Way to a Healthy, Happy life“.
The following are just some of her secrets by which she successfully cheated old age and inspired people throughout the world.
1. Be active even though you are not exercising
"When we are active, our body and brain works better. We think faster and remember more.”
2. Nourish your competitive personality
"Never stop pushing yourself. Just look at me – I made world records then I broke them and then I broke them again. I stopped counting my golden medals, but I will never stop competing.“
3. Stay sporty
"Freedom of moving your body is a beautiful thing. You are never too old to exercise”.
4. Breathe deeply
"I believe in deep breathing and do it every day and before the start of any race. When you fill your lungs with fresh air, all that oxygen feeds every cell in your body”.
5. Be positive (no matter what)
“Of all of my secrets to good health this one is the most important for maintain health. I think one should be optimistic. Every day I try to wake up with a smile. If I get mad or upset, I try to move on quickly. There are more important things to do”.
6. Try a spoonful of Kick-a-Pooh Juice
"I am writing a book about my life which contains lots of recipes. One of my favorite is Kick-a-Pooh Juice. It is simple: Purée three whole lemons, three heads of garlic and three cups of water. Bring to a boil, but not for long. Store it in the fridge. Take two spoons each day.
7. Get rid of “the old junk”
Don't give up. Don't hold grudges. Don't say "I am too old“. Don't say "Not today“. Get rid of the old junk that is holding you back. Be and endure! Never stop preserving.
8. Make friends of all ages
Visit cinema, restaurants, bowling, do anything. It is important to spend time with people regardless of the age.
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