Michael Kish, a 70-year-old American runner, stunned the audience at the Penn Relays athletic event last Thursday, by finishing the 100-meter dash in under 14 seconds.

Imagine being a pensioner and turning up at an important sporting event meant primarily for athletes in prime physical shape and stealing the show. That’s exactly what Michael Kish did last week with his awe-inspiring performance in the 100-meter dash, blowing past his competitors and finishing with an impressive time of just 13.47 seconds. That’s a time most 20-year-olds can only dream of beating, yet this 70-year-old grandfather ran it like it was no big deal.

Although Michael Kish’s time isn’t anywhere near the all-time record for the 100-meter dash men aged 70 or over set by fellow American, Bobby Whilden, at the 2005 Senior Olympics (12.77 seconds), it’s still a monumental achievement, one that has since won the praise of millions of people on social media.

 

Believe it or not, Kish only started running track at age 59, when someone advised him to check out the New Jersey Senior Olympics. He was already a force to be reckoned with in his early 60s, and was frequently placing on the podium in events for M65 events. In 2018, he was the fastest member of the men’s relay team at the World Masters Athletics in Malaga.

The clip of Michael Kish dusting the competition last week quickly went viral, gaining millions of views and thousands of comments praising his performance.

“I don’t even drive that fast,” one person wrote.

“These guys at 70 are faster than I ever was,” someone else commented.

Philadelphia’s Don Warren came in second place with a time of 14.35, while Joachim Acolatse finished third with 15.86. Mikhael Kish’s time of 13:47 was even faster than that of the winner of the men’s 55-year-old division.