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How an 81-year-old chases a world record - Sports Life

12:35

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Ralph-Jürgen Schönheinz
July 18, 2025

How do you stay fit in old age? Friedhelm Adorf has an answer. The 81-year-old exercises every morning, eats a healthy diet and trains for a world record: the 200m sprint in his age group. Unfortunately, his knee is giving him problems. Will he still succeed?

One of the world’s fastest sprinters in his age group, Friedhelm is chasing the one accolade that has eluded him: a world record in the 200 meters. This portrait follows Friedhelm through rigorous training sessions, moments with his young protégé, and a showdown at the national championships. With humor, resilience, and unshakable optimism, Friedhelm proves that age is just a number. 

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Ralph-Jürgen Schönheinz Sports Life ENG
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Sports Life — Overcoming Challenges with Sports

Everything we know about life can be found in sports: Success and failure, euphoria and despair. Sports Life tells stories from across the globe, where sports drives personal growth and changes lives.

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