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A 101-year-old became in July the oldest woman
ever to compete in the USA Track and Field
Outdoors Masters Championships.
Julia “Hurricane” Hawkins ran the 100m dash at
the Louisiana event in 40.12 seconds, beating the
current certified world record for women aged 100
and older by six seconds, reports said.
“I missed my nap for this,” Hawkins said at
the event, which took place at Louisiana State
University.
Hawkins, who started running at the age of 100,
reportedly practices her sprints several times a
week.
She has been an avid bicyclist for many years
and is now using her strong legs for running.
“I’m always outside and the phone always rings,
and I come running in is how I knew I could run,”
Hawkins said.
Hawkins, who was born in Wisconsin in 1916, said
she also likes to impress her family with her running
skills.
She has four children, three grandchildren and Credit: (USATF Instagram)
one great-grandchild.

The International Olympic Committee has locked in the the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo 2020’s
near-future of the Summer Olympics by deciding to award estimated budget doubling from $6.6 billion to more than
the 2024 and 2028 Games simultaneously on Sept. 13 at $12 billion are more reasons why many major cities are
the 131st IOC Session in Lima, Peru. turning away from wanting to stage the biggest sporting
The decision was made as Los Angeles and Paris bid event. The host city contract requires the host city’s
leaders met in Lausanne, Switzerland, to vote on the 2024- government to serve as a backup in case the Olympics run
2028 proposal. It was approved unanimously. over the budget.
For the first time since the bidding for the 1988 Summer Los Angeles and Paris appear to be viable options
Games, the IOC has two options to pick from. Los Angeles to host the Olympics with many facilities and venues
and Paris have both expressed strong interest in winning already in place so there is less likelihood that the budget
2024 but the IOC decision now ensures that both cities to host balloons to the level of recent games like Beijing
will host within the next 11 years. The United States has ($40 billion) or Sochi ($51 billion). Paris’ bid does come
not hosted a Summer Olympics since Atlanta in 1996. Paris with a $2 billion price tag to build an Olympic Village
has not hosted a Summer Olympics since 1924. and an aquatics centre. Most signs are pointing toward
It’s a safe decision for IOC President Thomas Bach after Paris being awarded the 2024 Olympics and Los Angeles
Boston, Budapest, Hamburg and Rome dropped out of getting 2028. Paris has made 2024 its sole priority while
contention to host in 2024 due to the public outcry and Los Angeles has expressed some interest in waiting the
referendums against any potential bid. four extra years for 2028. (Editor’s note: This scheduling as
The abandoned venues and mounting debt from since been confirmed by the IOC)

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