MOSSEL BAY NEWS - Local athlete Neville Malgas (63) shone at this year's Golden Games for senior athletes in Mossel Bay, with an outstanding time of 12:25 seconds for the 100m race.
His gold medal-winning performance was the highlight of the games, held at the Van Riebeeck Stadium on 22 May.
On 15 August last year, Malgas finished the 100m in 11:44 seconds during the seniors’ sports day, also held at the Van Riebeeck Stadium.
He is a member of the Mossel Bay Seniors athletics group, which is part of the South Western Districts Athletics Masters group.
Malgas says he keeps in top form by training twice a week.
The Mossel Bay Seniors, comprising 30 members, meet once a week for their training at the D’Almeida sports stadium.
“You can’t afford to be unfit, because you will get injured. You have to look after your ligaments,” he says.
Malgas also rides a mountain bike regularly as part of his exercise programme.
Discipline
“Eating healthily is part of the discipline. Spiritual discipline is also important,” Malgas says, noting that he is an ordained pastor at New Creation Church in Civic Park, Mossel Bay.
He competes in the 60 to 64 age group and took part in the South African Masters Athletics (Sama) Championships last month in Oudtshoorn.
Neville Malgas with the medal he won at the Golden Games. Malgas was pleased to have bettered his times for the 100m and 200m, although he did not win any medals.
He says he has no ailments or chronic conditions and is not on any medication.
Malgas has always run short distances and been interested in track and field sports, especially long jump.
“If I try to do a 10km race, the old ladies all beat me,” he says with a smile.
“I might run five kilometres, but no more than that.”
He adds: “With the 100m, you inhale before the start of the race and only need to exhale at the end. With longer races, the breathing is altogether different.”
Neville Malgas with the gold medal he won at the Golden Games.‘We bring you the latest Garden Route, Hessequa, Karoo news’
