The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
European gold for 75-year old long jumper Jim O’Shea
JIM O’Shea has not only has another gold medal under his belt but he also became the first winner at this year’s European Master Athletic Championships in Madrid.
The 75-year old from Listry won the long lump in his age category on Monday morning in what was the first event of the week long European athletic championships.
Jim jumped a total of four metres and was just four centimetres or 1.5 inches ahead of the second place jumper from Finland. In fact all three medallists in the +M75 category were within centimetres of each other.
O’Shea has racked up a host of gold medals in his long athletic career and this week gold medal comes just a week after a gold medal at the British Master Track and Field Championships in London.
Despite his age Jim’s athletic career is as strong as ever and his training, which includes four sessions a week, has put him up there with the best in Ireland and Europe.
Key at his age, Jim says, is his flexibility and mobility training, which he does at home, and he also does a gym session with his friend, Jerry Horgan, in Killorglin weekly, which helps him maintain his high standard.
Jim is a member of Farranfore Maine Valley AC and he trains at An Riocht in Castleisland when practising his jumps.
“I love it and thank god I haven’t an ache or a pain,” he told The Kerryman.