AMAZING FEATS BY ELDERLY PEOPLE
Added on: 22nd Dec 2014
OLDEST PERSON TO BEGIN PRIMARY SCHOOL
The misconception that you can’t learn new things when you
are old is now shattered thanks to Kimani Maruge who enrolled in
the first grade at 84 years old. There is therefore no excuse for the
rest of us
OLDEST COMPETITIVE VIDEO GAMER
Check out Doris Self. At 81 years old, she’s spanking and taking
names. At the Twin Galaxies 1984 Video Game Masters Tournament,
Doris was able to clench a world record with 1,112,300 points on
Twin Galaxies’ Tournament Settings (TGTS) — which is the most
difficult settings in the game.
OLDEST BUNGEE JUMPER
Bungee Jumping is one of the most intense things you can do to
feed your adrenaline rush addiction. Young people tremble at the
thought of tackling this death defying feat. And so did 96 year
old Mohr Keet but he still took the plunge and entered the
Guinness world record as the oldest bungee jumper ever.
As if that’s not enough, Mohr jumped from South Africa’s
Western Cape which is a 708ft drop!
OLDEST PERSON TO VISIT THE NORTH POLE
The North Pole is a harsh environment with temperatures
reaching −43 °C (−45 °F). A constantly changing landscape,
life is scarce and few can tolerate the brutal cold. Nevertheless
Dorothy Davenhill Hirsch of 89 years and 109 days visited the
north pole while aboard the Russian Nuclear Ice Breaker Yamal.
OLDEST PERSON TO VISIT THE SOUTH POLE
Though the North Pole is a harsh environment, it can’t
compare to the brutal harshness of the South Pole.
Presently located in the continent of Antarctica 9,301 ft. above
sea level the South Pole is a frozen desert with temperatures
reaching −58 °C (−72 °F). It is in this harshness that Simon Murray,
63 years 309 days old trekked the 1,200 km journey from the
Hercules Inlet on the Zumberge Coast, Antarctica to the South Pole;
a journey that took him 2 months to complete. Murray became the
oldest man to reach the South Pole unsupported.
OLDEST PERSON TO SAIL AROUND THE WORLD
Sailing across the world is a feat in it of itself, but for
someone as old as Minoru Saito, who was 77 years old when he
completed a circumnavigation of the world, to actually accomplish
this feat is nothing short of astounding. But it doesn’t end there;
he has successfully circumnavigated the world eight times.
The eighth time he circumnavigated the world going the “wrong way”
meaning going westwardly against prevailing winds and currents,
a feat that took Minoru 1,080 days to complete.
OLDEST PERSON TO RELEASE A NEW ALBUM
Smoky Dawson, was an Australian country music performer who
at the age 92 years and 156 days released a collection of
original songs in an album entitled “Homestead of My Dreams”
making him the oldest person to release a new album. Touted
as Australian’s “singing cowboy”, Dawson’s achievements are
extensive and his contribution to music has won him a wide
range of awards.
OLDEST PRACTICING DOCTOR
Dr. Leila Denmark was an American paediatrician who earned the
title of “oldest practicing paediatrician” until her retirement on May 2001
at the age of 103. Not only was Leila the oldest practicing paediatrician
but was also a super centenarian living to be 114 years old. She was
one of the 100 oldest people ever and at the time of her death
was the 4th oldest verified person in the world.
OLDEST WOMAN TO GIVE BIRTH TO TWINS
Having children has been described as one of the ultimate
blessings by some. As such, many women dream with having
children but for a multitude of reason are not able to.
Carmela Bousada falls into this group. At age 67 Carmela dreamt
of having children of her own, so she went to California’s Pacific
Fertility Centre where she went through the in vitro fertilization
procedure which resulted in a pair of healthy twin boys
(Christian and Pau). This sparked huge controversy and
criticism over the right age of pregnancy and Carmela’s disregard for
the emotional and paternal needs of the new-borns. Sadly,
Carmela died at the age of 69, two years after giving birth to the twins.
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