Runner 93 years old running Paris Marathon sub7.30

"It was unbelievable. I couldn't stop crying. Everyone was cheering and clapping for me. It was amazing," Bancarel said after finishing on April 2.

Bancarel attended the 11th Paris Marathon with a relaxed mind, and even aspired to improve his personal performance compared to 4 years ago - 5 hours 10 minutes. "My plan is to enter the tournament in the best shape and hope to run sub5 in Paris this time," he told a French news agency before attending the tournament.

Bancarel revealed that he did not take any special age-related medical precautions while running the 2023 Paris Marathon. According to the 93-year-old runner, doctors even gave him the "green light" to enter the race, when heart indicators, good blood pressure and flexible knees. Bancarel was only warned about the risk of cramps or kidney problems if he didn't drink enough water during competition.

"Tired? Oh no, that never happened to me," added Bancarel - who will turn 94 in August. "Yesterday, I cycled 30km and alternated it with jogging, about 10km a day. For a long time, I was always the oldest in every tournament I attended, but I didn't hurt my legs, knees or eyes. fish. I always keep my weight at 50kg."

Bancarel did not reach the specified goal, when he finished on April 2 last in 7 hours and 22 minutes, but this parameter still helped him set a record with the runner at the age of 93. Bancarel claims to have performed well, distributed well. fitness and happiness when completing the race. "Thank you to the runners who ran with and cheered me on throughout the race as well as the organizers - who were very worried about me," added Bancarel.

"With the results at the 2023 Paris Marathon, Bancarel once again proves that age is simply a number, and that he is an example for us to follow," commented Runner's World.

But Bancarel does not want to stop, he still has ambitions to participate in the Paris 2024 Olympics at the age of 94. "If I continue to have good health, I hope to attend Paris 2014", this runner emphasized. "I will practice more. It will be a dream. When I learned that the Olympics would be held in Paris, I told myself that. I knew I could and wanted to participate."

The president of the French Athletics Federation, Andre Giraud, confirmed that Bancarel can participate in the Marathon pour tous - the amateur version of the marathon at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Bancarel said: "I still want to leave my mark on my children and grandchildren, for them. see how they have a grandfather who loves sports."