Emma Maria Mazzenga, born on Aug. 1, 1933, is known as the world’s fastest 90-year-old woman sprinter, recently setting a world record in the 90 and over age group by running the 200 meters outdoors in 51.47 seconds. She holds five world records, nine European records, and 28 best Italian performances in various categories of Masters sprinting. Italy, with the oldest population in the European Union, is home to Mazzenga, who has made a name for herself as a standout athlete in her age group.
Mazzenga, after setting her latest world record, expressed surprise and satisfaction at her speed. She modestly stated that she didn’t think she ran that fast, beating the previous record set by Japan’s Emiko Saito. Mazzenga follows specific rituals for her races, running without socks and changing shoes that she only uses for training. She celebrates her successes with fellow runners by enjoying a beer, despite not having direct rivals in her age category of W90.
Mazzenga began her running career as a young woman but stopped for many years after getting married and having children. She resumed athletics as a Masters athlete at the age of 53, finding comfort in running during her later years. Running has also allowed her to be surrounded by people and prevent loneliness. Her future plans include participating in the Italian championships starting in June and having her sights set on the world championships in Sweden next year. However, Mazzenga prefers not to make long-term plans, embracing each challenge as it comes.
The world record for the women’s 200 meters, one of the oldest athletics records, was set by Florence Griffith Joyner in 1988 with a time of 21.34 seconds. The women’s 50 and over category record of 24.33 seconds belongs to Merlene Ottey, while the women 70 and over record of 31.30 seconds is held by Ingrid Meier. Surprisingly, there is even a record for women aged 100 and over, held by Diane Friedman. Mazzenga’s accomplishments as the fastest 90-year-old woman sprinter are remarkable in the context of these other impressive records.
As one of the unsung stars of Italian athletics, Emma Maria Mazzenga’s dedication and success in Masters sprinting are admirable. Despite facing challenging times in her life, running has been a constant source of joy and companionship for her. With a focus on achieving good times rather than competing with others in her age group, Mazzenga continues to break world records and set new goals for herself. Her achievements serve as an inspiration to athletes of all ages, proving that age is not a barrier to success in the world of sports.
