| Frederico Fischer | |
 | |
| Birth: | 6 January 1917 Ribeirao Preto, Sao Paulo, Brazil |
| Age: | 107 years, 333 days |
| Country: |  BRA
|
| Centenarian | |
Frederico Fischer (born 6 January 1917) is a Brazilian centenarian and athlete. He is the current Masters M90 and M95 world record holder in the 100 metres.
Biography[]
Early life[]
He was born of German ancestry, his father moved to Brazil in 1909 and had been successful selling prepared meats because he owned a refrigerator, his older brother was born in Germany (and survived until almost 100 years of age). He also has a sister who, as of the last report, was still alive at age 99 in 2012. During World War I his family was ostracized when Brazil joined the war, causing a move to Jaguariaiva where his father drowned in the river. Frederico grew up in Pompeia, Sao Paulo, taking care of the family while his mother worked in a factory. As he got older he played football as a goalie with the club in Santo Amaro and rode bicycles. When his brother built a boat, he joined and took up sailing joining the Club de Regatas Tiete. Frederico got his first job in a Pig iron factory at age 15, but studied to be an accountant which became his career.
Athletics[]
In his mid 20s he drifted into the sport of Athletics, became the regional champion in the 400 metres hurdles and decathlon, chasing the records of Sylvio de Magalhaes Padilha training two to three times a week. But when he asked for time off work to compete at a higher level, his boss gave him the ultimatum, "You choose, your enjoyment or your job," he chose his job.
He married his wife, Teresa in 1947. She still supports his endeavors. In that era, athletes were expected to stop playing sports by age 40, "because it was too dangerous for the heart." But he remained active with his athletics club. While working as a director of a ceramics factory in Maua, his club sponsored a run for distance runners. Frederico joined in. Sitting in a car after the run he realized perspiration, getting the blood circulating, all of problems he wanted to solve became clearer. He got more active. His group was approached by a group from Chile led by Hernan Figueroa, who were trying to start a veteran athlete group. Frederico joined in 1973, by 1975 he was president of the Athletic Association Veterans of São Paulo.
Fischer began attending the World Masters Athletics Championships starting in 1979, in Hannover, Germany. He says he has become addicted to the competition. It was fourteen years later in Carolina, Puerto Rico when his gold medal haul started with five wins at 100 metres, 200 metres, 400 metres, shot put and discus. He turned 100 in January 2017.
References[]
- Records Outdoor Men World Masters Athletics, 28 June 2011
- Frederico Fischer será homenageado em competição de atletismo Perui Best, 29 February 2012
- O atleta de 100 anos Gazeta Esportiva, 5 May 2017
- World Famous Athletes: Athletic Directory Masters Athletics, 23 March 2020