You are never too old to be a competitive athlete. That is the message sent by 83-year old Lembit Saar, a Calgarian who while always involved with athletics only started to compete at the masters level in his 1970’s
Saar was a skilled Olympic-style wrestler in pre-war Estonia. When circumstances dictated coming to Canada some 50 years ago, he participated in cross-country skiing competitions - in long distance races, known as loppets. There were times when by far the majority of competitors were Nordic skiiers, many Estonians excelled in the sport.
Saar was trained in Estonia as a furniture maker. Like many Estonians he found employment as a craftsman at the CBC. Estonian carpenters and painters were much valued for their ability. There was a time in the 90 Sumach Street building in Toronto where Estonian was the lingua franca in the workshops - people of other backgrounds all knew at least a smattering of estonian.
It was during his CBC employment where Saar found that he had little time for his athletic pursuits. His senior position as supervisor of set construction meant that meeting deadlines was stressful. Saar recalls that it was then that he let physical fitness slide down his priority list.
In an interview to the Calgary Herald prior to Alberta’s provincial masters track and field championships, Saar revealed how he returned to competition, now as a high jumper, and vying for medals in field events such as shot put, discus, hammer and javelin, Saar has already collected a formidable amount of medals at the masters level.
Saar was bitten by the bug when he was videotaping some Estonian friends who were master category athletes (40 years and older). It seemed like an enjoyable activity, the camera was put down, and Saar began competing.
This even though Saar never thought of himself as a track and filed athlete, considering himself to be too short, not having the right body shape for field events.
Yet, as the Calgary Herald noted, Saar’s level of fitness would put thousands of paunchy middle-aged suburbanites to shame.
It was wonderful to read about yet another top- calibre Estonian athlete competing at the masters level, introducing to Canadians not not only his Estonian heritage, but a lifestyle that is healthy and extends for many their lives.
(CH/ref.TN)
Lembit Saar - master athlete
Archived Articles | 01 Oct 2002 | TNEWR
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