Philip Rabinowitz (runner)
| Philip Rabinowitz | |
|---|---|
| Born | February 16, 1904 Lithuania |
| Died | February 28, 2008 (aged 104) Cape Town, South Africa |
| Occupation | Bookkeeper |
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Wikinews has related news: South African sprinter Philip Rabinowitz dies at age 104 |
Philip "Flying Phil" Rabinowitz (February 16, 1904 – February 28, 2008) was a sprinter from South Africa who, on July 10, 2004, entered the Guinness Book of World Records as the fastest 100-year-old to ever run the 100 meters.
Rabinowitz finished in a time of 30.86 seconds; breaking the previous world record of 36.19 set by Erwin Jaskulski of Austria. A week before, the centenarian broke the record, but a faulty electronic timer kept the mark out of the books.
Rabinowitz worked as a bookkeeper for his daughter and tried to walk at least four miles (six kilometers) a day. He left Lithuania for South Africa at the age of 21 and lived in Hout Bay , Cape Town, South Africa at the time of his death.
For comparison, the world record for the men's 100 meters —9.58 seconds— was set by Usain Bolt of Jamaica, 5 days before his 22nd birthday.
[edit] References
- Philip Rabinowitz is Officially the World’s Fastest Centenarian
- "Legendary runner Flying Phil dead at 104"
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