When you think of an 87-year-old, do you think of someone running a 100-meter dash? How about making a double play? Can you imagine an 87-year-old pole vaulting? Adolph Hoffman does all that and more.
When the softball team for 75-year-olds takes the field, the second baseman is a bit out of his league.
"Adolph is probably the oldest guy in the league," says 75-year-old coach Jim Robertson.
It's not his heart on his sleeve, it's his age on his back. Hoffman's uniform bears the number 87. The octogenarian plays plays softball and hardball.
"I can't play on an older team, 75 is the oldest hardball team." laughed Hoffman.
Hoffman played ball when he was young, but then came World War II. After that was family and work.
"And then I picked it up again at 80," Hoffman laughed.
He did it to get in shape.
"But then there's the competition and you're beating everybody and it's inspiring to no end," Hoffman explained.
Hoffman says he never drank or smoked. But he hasn't been without health problems. He had a triple bypass in 2001.
As amazing as it is to see an 87 year old heading for first base it's even more incredible when you see Hoffman sailing through the air pole vaulting.
Hoffman competes in the Senior Olympics. He rattles off all of the events in which he competes.
"I pole vault, high jump, long jump, discus, shot, javelin, hammer throw and run. I run the 100 meter and 200 meter," Hoffman said.
Last year at the age of 86, Hoffman won seven medals out of 9.
Now he's in training for the 2011 games. He's working out alongside high school athletes.
"Most folks Adolph's age are not pole vaulting. They're under the ground instead of above the ground. He's inspiring," said Hoffman's pole vaulting coach Cris Allison.
He''s not worried about hurting himself now.
"It should have been high school. We went 12 foot and only had sand to fall into," Hoffman said.
Hoffman and his brother held the state record for pole vaulting 70 years ago.
Now, he's trying to set it again. The world record in his age group is eight foot. Hoffman is hitting seven and half regularly.
Here's another record for which he's aiming. The most senior player in the Senior World Series.
The man who makes Hoffman's uniform changes his number every year.
"He's going to supply me until I'm 99 and he said someone else is going to have to take over when you hit 100," Hoffman laughed.
video:
http://www.kens5.com/home/87-year-old-aiming-for-pole-vaulting-record-94771634.html
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