Life begins at forty

[Gob]

Jo Pavey, a 40-year-old mother of two, won a brilliant 10,000m gold to get Britain's European Championships off to a remarkable start.



Pavey, who only gave birth to her daughter Emily 11 months ago, ran the perfect tactical race to match the gold won by her old friend Paula Radcliffe in Munich 12 years ago.

When France's Clemence Calvin - 16 years her junior and almost 20 seconds faster this season - went to the front with two laps to go Pavey tucked in behind.

Then, at the bell, the Briton surged into the lead, held Calvin at bay on the back straight and kicked hard again as she came off the top bend to race to her first ever major title.

She becomes the oldest female gold medallist in the championships' history, and having won Commonwealth 5,000m bronze 10 days ago seals a wonderful summer at an age when most athletes are long retired.

Pavey told BBC Sport: "I just can't believe it. I was finding it quite a long way - I was thinking, is this the right event?

"I'm really thrilled. I tried to do a controlled last lap, but when I got to the home straight I thought, just give it all you've got, so you don't regret anything."

The time - 32 minutes 22.39 seconds was irrelevant, Calvin hanging on for silver and her compatriot Laila Traby taking bronze.

British team captain Goldie Sayers had given a speech on the eve of the championships urging her team-mates a simple question: "How would you perform if this was the last time you would ever compete?"

[Sue U]

Forty? I thought it was fifty: My friend Renee calls herself "the world's fastest old lady." There's not a lot of youngsters who can beat her times.

[Long Run]

She's very fast, indeed.

As for Jo Pavey, for the excellent story this is, it is sad that the news carrier could not be bothered to show up and take a current picture (the one above being from 2012). Also sad that she had such a poor shoe sponsor contract that she couldn't even get matching shoes.

[Gob]

She's very fast, indeed.

As for Jo Pavey, for the excellent story this is, it is sad that the news carrier could not be bothered to show up and take a current picture (the one above being from 2012). Also sad that she had such a poor shoe sponsor contract that she couldn't even get matching shoes.

That's my fault. The article didn't have a good photo linked, so I used an older one.

[Long Run]

Internet time traveler.

[rubato]

Some athletic contests are less selective against older competitors than others.

How many tennis players have won grand slam events over 40? How many Tour de France champions?

The clock runs down. And then it runs out. Get over it.

yrs,
rubato

[Gob]

Yes, get over it...

whichever of you it was who wasn't over it...

[Sue U]

She's very fast, indeed.

It's not for nothing they call her "Jet." And at 50, she's looking mighty fine, also too.

[BoSoxGal]

I'm working on getting back into shape myself, inspired by many stories of older folks who've become marathoners and iron person athletes late in life.

I also recently got involved with a man 8 years younger than me who is pretty durn hot, so I guess I've officially entered my cougar stage.

[Jarlaxle]

This requires photographic evidence!

*ducks and runs*