Donald Pellmann facts for kids
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | August 12, 1915 Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| Died | October 11, 2020 (aged 105) Santa Clara, California, U.S. |
| Occupation | Masters athlete |
| Sport | |
| Country |  USA |
| Sport |
|
| Event(s) | San Diego Senior Olympics |
Donald Pellmann (born August 12, 1915 – died October 11, 2020) was an amazing American athlete. He was a "masters athlete," which means he competed in sports even when he was older. He set many world records in different events, even when he was over 90 years old! He was known for his incredible achievements in events like the long jump, high jump, and discus throw. He also held American records in the 100 meters, triple jump, shot put, and javelin throw.
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Donald Pellmann's Life Story
Donald Pellmann was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He grew up during a tough time called the Great Depression. He tried high jumping in high school but said he wasn't "great." Work became his main focus. He worked as a tool and die maker, making special tools for machines. He kept working through World War II. In 1970, he retired from his job at a company linked to General Electric.
For 58 years, Donald wasn't very involved in sports. He sometimes played bowling, softball, or golf. He noticed that his friends who played football had problems with their ankles, knees, and hearts. But Donald never had those kinds of health issues.
Setting World Records at 100
On September 20, 2015, something incredible happened. Donald Pellmann set five world records at the San Diego Senior Games! He was competing in the category for athletes aged 100 and older.
He ran the 100-meter dash in 26.99 seconds. This beat the old record by almost three seconds! Donald also became the first person over 100 to clear an official height in the high jump. He set more records in the shot put, discus throw, and long jump. After this amazing day, he was named "Athlete of the Week" by USA Track & Field (USATF).
Later Life and Legacy
In 2018, Donald's wife, Marge, passed away. They had been married for 71 years. In September 2020, Donald had hip surgery after a fall. He passed away on October 11, 2020, at 105 years old.
In 2020, Donald Pellmann was voted into the USATF Masters Hall of Fame. This honor recognized his incredible achievements and his long career as a masters athlete.
See also
In Spanish: Donald Pellmann para niños
Images for kids
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Donald Pellmann's record-setting day and 100-meter record race.
