Fastest Centenarian sets 100 meter record

Philip Rabinowitz is officially the world’s fastest centenarian--It took two tries at the 100-meter dash
but he set the record today

July 10, 2004 – Philip Rabinowitz proved to the world today that he is the fastest centenarian. At 100 years old he set a new official record today in a 100-meter sprint at Green Point Stadium in Cape Town, South Africa. He tried for the record last week but the official clock failed to record the time.

He set a new mark of 30.86 seconds - almost six seconds better than the previous record. Rabinowitz, who turned 100 in February, says his next goal is to smash his own record.

The South African is already recognized by the Guiness Book of World Records as the oldest competitive walker and at 100 years old he tried to set the record for the 100-meter run. He says his time last Sunday was 28.7 seconds, beating the previous record of 36.1 seconds but a power failure kept the official clock from recording the time..

He lives in Hout Bay, Cape Town, South Africa. Rabinowitz was born in 1904, and regularly competes in races over 20 km (12.42 miles). He was born in Lithuania but left for South Africa when he was 21.

He was interviewed on National Public Radio this week – before setting the new record today - by Michele Norris on the show All Things Considered. You can listen to this interview with the centenarian who says he will just try again.

You can Click Here for the audio .