100-Year-Old World War II Navy Veteran Runs 100 Meters At National Senior Games

Frederick Winter has a strict training regimen.

"I try to do aerobics every morning at 6 a.m.," Winter told the Holland Sentinel in Michigan. "If I don’t get it done at 6 a.m., it doesn't get done. I do about 30 minutes worth."

Those daily workouts, which include 100 pushups, paid off. Winter, a World War II veteran, became the first 100-year-old to race the 100-meter dash at the annual National Senior Games, according to Runner's World.

Winter, who turned 100 on June 1, had a time of 42.38 seconds.

Here's video, shot by St. Paul Pioneer Press reporter Richard Chin, of Winter's start in the 100 meters:

Winter also won the javelin in the over-100 division with a throw more than 8 meters. The oldest competitor in this year's National Senior Games, 102-year-old John Zilverberg of South Dakota, took second place in the javelin. The Pioneer Press reported that Winter "sat in a wheelchair as he waited for the javelin event to start. He said his grandkids wanted him to use it to save his legs for the competition."

Winter spent 25 years in the Navy, which included nearly drowning in the Battle of Okinawa. He was 70 when he began competing in track and field for the first time since high school.

"I wanted to compare myself, physically, mentally, morally, with people my own age," Winter told West Michigan Sports Commission, "and the one way to do that is to go into track and field."

The Pioneer Press also reported that nearly 10,000 athletes competed in the National Senior Games this year. The event was held at University of St. Thomas in St. Paul.