90-Year-Old Hurdler Is an Inspiration
by Melinda Burris

This story is an almost epic example that the adage ‘you are only as old as you feel’ can prove true. Arnold Nett, a 90-year-old hurdler from Edmonton, Canada is the talk of the Canadian Masters Athletics (CMA) association and the international hurdling community as he continues to set new records in track and field as the oldest male Canadian hurdler to compete. And he doesn’t just compete, Nett wins!

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Asked why he became a masters competitor when he began seriously training at the age of 55, Nett explains that although he participated in track and field while in high school, he didn’t have the opportunity to get back into the sport until the Alberta Senior Games began.¹ From that point on, Nett was literally off and running.

According to Nett, “It’s [the] comradery with the other runners…” that sparks his interest in track and field athletics, but it’s worth noting he also admits he is competitive by nature. His desire to excel has more than paid off, as evidenced by the fact that he has now lost count of the number of competitions he has taken part in, as well as the number of gold medals he has won!¹ At last count, Nett had approximately 103 gold medals to his credit, an impressive amount for an athlete of any age, participating in any sport.

Nett has a regular training regimen with his coach, Jackson Hinton, who is himself a masters hurdler and has earned recognition for his own impressive record-breaking track career. Nett trains two times per week with Jackson at a local sports center doing a routine that consists of an hour and a half of general track training and then an additional hour of training devoted solely to hurdling. Nett is honest when he speaks about the dedication it takes to stay in shape; he readily admits, “It’s hard. You have to really train for it.”¹ His commitment continues to pay off, as Global News reported in February of this year, “He most recently set three Canadian records during an event in Edmonton in the men’s 90-94 division in [the] pentathlon and high jump, and he became the first Canadian 90-years-old or older to complete the 60-meter hurdles.”²

Nett has clearly won the admiration of the world athletics community and his fellow competitors, but some of the most interesting insights into what his achievements have meant to sport come from his coach, Jackson Hinton. As a competitive hurdler himself, Hinton understands that “Hurdles is one of the most technically demanding events in track and field…” and acknowledges his admiration for Nett competing at such an advanced level remarking, “doing it at 90 years old is absolutely stunning to me. I’m genuinely inspired every time we work on it.”¹ Hinton seems to have taken the example Nett has set as an encouragement to envision a longer career for himself noting, “[I]t just kind of opens the door for a lifetime of doing the event that I love as well.”¹

The Advantages of Staying Fit

Medical professionals are constantly telling us to keep moving to stay healthy, particularly in the modern age when for so much of the population our work demands we sit at desks in front of screens for hours at a time, prompting the sad but true saying: ‘Sitting is the new smoking’, meaning the lack of physical activity is causing illness and early death for many, just as smoking tobacco products did decades ago.

As for Nett, he is a strong proponent of staying active declaring his work at the track keeps him feeling youthful. Nett is the first to admit it can be difficult to get going some days, admitting that some days it takes him until noon to loosen up enough to get outside and go for a short run.¹ The important thing is he does it, despite the challenges. Why? Nett explains, “I feel that the longer seniors keep fit and keep active, the longer you can stay out of hospitals and nursing homes.”¹ Medical experts and scientific research back Nett’s belief one hundred percent.

To stay active, you must maintain your mobility. The following is a list of mobility exercises beneficial not only for hurdlers but all athletes and anyone who wants to maintain a good range of movement.

# 3 Warmup Exercises for Mobility

1. Forward Walking Hurdles: This warmup exercise is extremely adaptable because you can use hurdles, cones, or even lines to give yourself a series of objects to step over in precision as you prepare your legs and body to eventually jump hurdles. If you are using hurdles, you can use ones of different sizes and separate them at whatever distance is in keeping with your skill level. ^3,4

• Remember to maintain proper posture and keep your hips and shoulders facing forward.
• Propel yourself forward by “driving on the ball of the foot.”³
• One foot should be between each hurdle at all times.

2. Backward Walking Hurdles: This exercise may challenge your coordination until you get the hang of it, but the motion required gives you an excellent hamstring stretch while simultaneously working the glutes.

• Stand with your feet together and your back to the first hurdle at a comfortable stepping distance.
• Step backward over the hurdle, extending the arm that corresponds to your lead stepping leg. For instance, if you step back starting with your right leg, be sure to extend your right arm straight out at the same time.
• Lean forward as you move to maintain proper balance.³

3. Lateral Unders: Hip mobility is a concern for hurdlers of any age, and this exercise is excellent for loosening up the hips:

• Pivot forward from the hips (being careful NOT to bend from the waist), and go under a set of hurdles set up as they would be for either of the two drills listed above.
• Switch lead legs and turn your body as you encounter each new hurdle. For instance, if you go under the first hurdle leading with your right leg with your face and body turned toward the left, approach the next hurdle using your left leg as the lead leg with your face and body turned toward the right, and so on.
• This exercise can be repeated with the pivot motion done in reverse. Doing this exercise in both a forward and backward direction will loosen the hips and give you enhanced mobility.³

Takeaways

Arnold Nett’s story is not only inspiring, it also proves that with the right motivation and consistent, proper training, the body is capable of accomplishing amazing feats. The next time you dread facing a training session because it’s too cold, too hot, or you aren’t feeling your best, ask yourself: Is a 90-year-old man in Canada outperforming me at this very moment? If that doesn’t fuel your athletic and competitive drive, I don’t know what will!

References:

1. Mulcahy, K. (10 March 15, 2023). ‘It’s incredible’: Edmonton Man Setting Track and Field Records at 90.
2. Kornik, S. (20 February 2023). 90-year-old Edmonton Track Star Sets New Canadian Records.
3. Mercado, R. (n.d.). Hurdle Mobility Drills for All – Not Just for Hurdlers.
4. (2023). Forward Walking, Hurdle–Involved Leg.

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