Letter 56 - She did WHAT at 100??
Hello Bregdan Women!
You have Ginny today…
WARNING: You’re about to be challenged – no matter what your age is!
Meet Diane Friedman. Her friends knew her as Dinny. Since my deep dive into her life for this letter, I feel like I know her, and that we could be friends.
I’m going to stick with Dinny.
When she passed away on August 30, 2023, she was 102.
This was a woman who understood the concept of living life “full-out” for as long as she was breathing.
How full-out?
Well, less than 2 years earlier, in 2021, she competed in the Michigan Senior Games. She broke the world record for the 100-meter dash for women over 100 by 3 seconds. She set a world record in the 200-meter dash. Just for fun, because it was her favorite event, she set an American record in the javelin throw.
Yes. She had just turned 100!
After decades of being an office worker, she decided it was time to get active when she hit her fifties. She chose running and javelin throwing as her sports.
She travelled the world competing in senior games as a sprinter and throwing the javelin – collecting so many medals and awards along the way that they no longer seemed important. The important thing was the experience and the friends she made along the way.
And the fact that she was active. Until the pandemic, she never owned a television set. She was afraid having one would make her sedentary!
After years of competing, when she turned seventy-five, she decided it was time to stop competing. Though she was no longer competing, she was still committed to walking and running. She was also committed to getting her friends off their sofas. She believed the secret to a long life was, “Just Keep Moving!”
Dinny spent her time enjoying Yiddish and Hebrew music and collecting antiques. She spent time with her family and stayed very informed on current events. She believed keeping her mind active was just as important as keeping her body moving.
After twenty years of not competing, she decided it was time to get back on the track.
Like you do!
Yes, she was 95.
I’m already planning all the things I will do to keep myself moving and active until I die! Learning about this woman has motivated me to imagine anything is possible!
Back to age 95. She found a running coach and discovered a great friend in Bruce Sherman. He was her greatest cheerleader and support.
Dinny amazed those around her with her tenacity and commitment to her sport. She held celebrity status when she came to the track, especially admired by young, female athletes who huddled around her for a picture.
Talk about a role model!
At the age of 96, Dinny began achieving both US and world record status in the 100M, 200M, and 400M dashes and she threw her javelin. Dinny amassed five world records and three US records between 2017 and 2021. She was twice featured in Sports Illustrated.
Okay, I know what you’re thinking… Just how many did she compete with? How many women from 96 – 100 are there on the track?
Not many.
Her competition was the clock. She simply wanted to do better than she had the race before. What a great way of looking at it!
I have a feeling her records will stand for a very long time!
Was she fast?
Come on… she was 100. She might not have been fast to a young track star, but she was fast enough to break lots of records!
More importantly, she never quit running! She never quit moving. She never quit wanting to do better than she had the day before.
Her story will stay with me for the rest of my life – another spiral of the legacy she left behind.
What about you?
Are you sedentary or moving?
Are you apathetic or still determined to live life full-out every single day?
Go for a walk. Grab a friend and go for another walk. It doesn’t matter how fast you go, or how long you go. Just do it!
Do some research on the Seniors Games. You’ll be astonished just how many women are out there living their best life and achieving amazing things!
I’m making plans to compete in Senior Swimming. :)
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What will you do to be a Bregdan Woman?
What will you do today to impact history??
We’re on this journey with you… (and have 2 FREE Gifts for you below…)
Ginny & Suess
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