- May 1, 2024
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I see a lot of elderly men on a regular basis. Some at my church and others around the community. While I’m sure some may exercise lightly at the gym while others walk around their street blocks several times, Buzz Porter stands — or runs — with his daily regimen.
Buzz, 80, has been running, jumping, pole vaulting and throwing discus, javelins and shot puts for nearly 60 years, and he still trains like he’s living in his 20s. And he annually reaps the fruit of his strenuous labor — gold, silver and bronze medallions.
This past year, Porter participated in 12 Track and field competitions, going as high up as Detroit, Michigan, and as far west as Shoreline, Washington. He competed in 109 total events and won 99 medals, set dozens of course, state and national records, and he achieved All-American status in at least one event everywhere he contended.
“Winning a total of 99 medals is phenomenal,” Porter said. “And, meeting all of my friends at the meets is just as important as earning the medals. But I get the biggest thrill from the amount of people who come over and tell me how inspirational I am to them, because I do 10-13 events in one meet, while they do only two or three.”
Buzz has distanced himself from the 1,000-medal mark, and, in a few years, he’ll be nearing 1,500. He has dedicated two rooms in his house and a wall in his living room to those medals.
Although he doesn’t plan to enter as many events next year, he has already begun training to attain All-American status in the 60-meter hurdles, which will be held on Jan. 21. If he’s not confident that he can reach that status by Jan. 16, he won’t compete, lest, he says, he embarrasses himself.
Whether Buzz medals or reaches All-American status, or not, I like his take on always getting out there to compete.
“I’ll always be ahead of that man sitting on the couch with that beer belly.”
Congratulations, Buzz, and continue to inspire us with your successful longevity.
