"I Feel Older Than Him"... Chinese Elderly Hurdler Amazes Social Media Users

Ding Ming, 82, Sets 16.73 Seconds in 80m Hurdles
"I Don’t Compete for Rankings"
"It’s Never Too Late to Start Exercising"

An 80-something-year-old man in China has made headlines after breaking the age group record in a track and field hurdles event.

According to the South China Morning Post (SCMP) on May 27 (local time), 82-year-old Ding Ming won the men’s 80-84 age group 80-meter hurdles at the "2026 China Masters Athletics Championships" held in Changsha, China this month, finishing with a time of 16.73 seconds. He surpassed the previous record that he had set himself in 2024.

At the event, Ding Ming stood at the starting line dressed in light athletic wear. Although his hair was almost white and his posture slightly stooped, as soon as the starting gun went off, he confidently cleared the hurdles with powerful strides.

After the race, Ding Ming said, "While running, I didn’t know if I would be able to break the record," adding, "I think having a relaxed mindset led to a good result." He continued, "I don’t compete for rankings," and emphasized, "It’s enough for me to enjoy exercising, meet like-minded friends, and stay healthy."

Dingming overcomes the hurdles. WeChat

Ding Ming competed in a total of three events at this championship, including high jump and shot put. Previously, at the 2019 Asia Masters Athletics Championships, he won four gold medals.

Born in Anshan, Liaoning Province, Ding Ming has loved sports since childhood and continued regular exercise for 20 years even after retiring from his technical job. He explained that he maintains his flexibility with indoor stretching during winter and ramps up the intensity of his training when the weather warms up.

A video of Ding Ming’s race quickly spread across Chinese social media platforms. One user commented, "Compared to that grandpa, I feel more like I’m 82," while another said, "After watching the video, I want to put down my phone and go exercise."

Responding to the online reactions, Ding Ming said, "I never expected the video to spread like this," and added, "I’m both surprised and honored that so many people enjoyed it." He went on to advise, "Younger generations are busy, and life moves fast, so it’s easy to neglect exercise. But as long as you take the first step, it’s never too late to start exercising."

However, he stressed that older adults should exercise according to their physical condition. Ding Ming said, "As you get older, you should never overexert yourself," emphasizing, "It’s important to know your limits and exercise safely. Avoiding injury is the most important thing."

Meanwhile, Ding Ming is scheduled to compete at the World Masters Athletics Championships to be held in Daegu this August.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.