83-year-old Hopes to Run Olympic 'Marathon for All' in Paris
2023-05-06
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1At age 83, Barbara Humbert dreams of taking part in next year's 'Marathon for All' race at the Paris Olympic Games.
2It is the first event of its kind, permitting amateur athletes to run the same race path as the Olympic marathon athletes.
3Humbert has a history of success suggesting she could beat some runners half her age.
4Not your usual great-grandmother, the German-born Frenchwoman runs 50 kilometers a week.
5She has competed in many marathons - and has the medals to show for it.
6"It's extraordinary to have the Olympics in Paris," said Humbert at her home in Eaubonne.
7The town is one hour's drive north of Paris.
8"It would be a gift for my 60th marathon," she added.
9"For me it would be a crowning achievement."
10However, Humbert is unsure if she will get to compete in the race because the number of runners is limited.
11In marathons, runners often receive race bibs - a piece of paper with a number on it to identify the runner.
12Race bibs for the Marathon for All will be limited to 20,024, to be chosen in a random draw.
13Humbert's husband Jacques is her biggest supporter.
14He is helping where he can.
15He is waiting to hear from the sports ministry about the request to reserve a bib for his wife.
16The ministry was not immediately available for comment to the Reuters news agency.
17Many medals hang in the entrance of Barbara and Jacques' home.
18They remind Barbara of all the races she has been part of, from Athens to Boston and many other cities.
19She estimates that she has run about 8,000 kilometers in those races.
20More than 40 years after she first started racing,
21 Humbert beat a world record in her group during the French athletics championships last year.
22She ran 125 kilometers in 24 hours.
23How did she do it? By training a lot, and being careful with her diet, she said.
24Humbert wants others to follow in her footsteps.
25She said of running, "It gives you balance. You run, you empty your head, you feel so much better afterwards."
26Barbara is not planning to stop anytime soon.
27"As long as my joints don't cry out in pain, I will keep running," she said.
28I'm John Russell.
1At age 83, Barbara Humbert dreams of taking part in next year's 'Marathon for All' race at the Paris Olympic Games. 2It is the first event of its kind, permitting amateur athletes to run the same race path as the Olympic marathon athletes. 3Humbert has a history of success suggesting she could beat some runners half her age. 4Not your usual great-grandmother, the German-born Frenchwoman runs 50 kilometers a week. She has competed in many marathons - and has the medals to show for it. 5"It's extraordinary to have the Olympics in Paris," said Humbert at her home in Eaubonne. The town is one hour's drive north of Paris. "It would be a gift for my 60th marathon," she added. "For me it would be a crowning achievement." 6However, Humbert is unsure if she will get to compete in the race because the number of runners is limited. 7In marathons, runners often receive race bibs - a piece of paper with a number on it to identify the runner. Race bibs for the Marathon for All will be limited to 20,024, to be chosen in a random draw. 8Humbert's husband Jacques is her biggest supporter. He is helping where he can. He is waiting to hear from the sports ministry about the request to reserve a bib for his wife. The ministry was not immediately available for comment to the Reuters news agency. 9Many medals hang in the entrance of Barbara and Jacques' home. 10They remind Barbara of all the races she has been part of, from Athens to Boston and many other cities. She estimates that she has run about 8,000 kilometers in those races. 11More than 40 years after she first started racing, Humbert beat a world record in her group during the French athletics championships last year. 12She ran 125 kilometers in 24 hours. 13How did she do it? By training a lot, and being careful with her diet, she said. 14Humbert wants others to follow in her footsteps. She said of running, "It gives you balance. You run, you empty your head, you feel so much better afterwards." 15Barbara is not planning to stop anytime soon. "As long as my joints don't cry out in pain, I will keep running," she said. 16I'm John Russell. 17Noemie Olive and Lucien Libert reported on this story for Reuters. John Russell adapted it for VOA Learning English. 18_______________________________________________________________ 19Words in This Story 20amateur - n. a person who does a sport for fun and not as a job 21medal - n. : a piece of metal with designs and words in honor of a special event or an achievement 22crowning achievement -n. the most important thing that a person has ever done 23random - adj. chosen, done without a particular plan or pattern 24draw -n. the act of choosing someone from among many choices without knowing who will be chosen