Sport | Other Sports
Age is no bar for amazing Italian
Di Somma is 55, but finishes marathons faster than any other athlete his age group
- by Rohan Alvares, Sports Reporter
- Published: 00:00 December 3, 2009
- Image Credit: Zarina Fernandes, XPRESS
- Marathon man: Di Somma limbers up
Dubai : Move over Rocky Balboa, there's a new Italian Stallion literally running loose and his name is Antonio di Somma.
For someone who first put on his running shoes only five years ago, di Somma's exploits in that time, especially this year are nothing short of extraordinary.
The Dubai resident began 2009 winning the 50 plus age-group in the Dubai Marathon in an eye-catching time of 2hr, 52min and 44sec. Proving it was no flash in the pan, he competed in the 55-plus age group at the London Marathon in April where he beat around 4,000 other veterans to cross the finish in first, eclipsing his Dubai effort with a time of 2:49.47. His best performance over the 42km distance came in Copenhagen, which he again won, this time in 2:48.39.
Then in New York a month ago, surprise surprise, the 55-year-old came out on top once more to prove he is quite simply the Haile Gebrselassie of the veterans.
But he has not run out of steam just yet as he looks to round off an incredible year with another strong showing at the annual Johnson Arabia Dubai Creek Striders Half Marathon next week.
Talking to XPRESS about his scintillating sequence, di Somma said: "It is a big achievement. But I have made a lot of sacrifices because this is a big commitment."
Back where it started
A veterinarian by profession, di Somma admitted he never took sport too seriously until he ran his first race with the Dubai Creek Striders. "I used to play football, but never seriously. I started to run just for fun, now I spend two hours training every day. On days where my job gives me a chance, I spend 40 to 45 minutes in the gym followed by an hour of stretching in the evenings," said the father of four and director at Dubai Falcon Hospital.
"I run to win. It can be hard to stay motivated after coming first in two of the biggest marathons in the world," he said before quickly finding a new goal. "I got a bronze medal at the World Masters Championships this year, so I would like to win gold in 2011."
Such has been his form this year, it does make you wonder what he might have accomplished had he started a little earlier. But he said: "I don't regret anything, even something like not competing in an Olympics. When I was younger, there were so many things in my life which were more important like work and raising my children. I didn't have the time to run."
The half marathon takes place on December 11. For more info visit www.dubaicreekstriders.com.
di Somma in his age group this year:
Dubai Marathon, January 16: 1st (2hrs, 52mins, 44secs)
London Marathon, April 26: 1st (2hrs, 49mins, 47secs)
Copenhagen Marathon, May 24: 1st (2hrs, 48mins, 39secs)
Helsinki World Masters Championships, August 8: 3rd (2hrs, 54mins, 59secs)
Berlin Marathon, September 20: 2nd (2hrs, 55mins, 6secs)
New York Marathon, November 1: 1st (2hrs, 50mins, 42secs)
di somma's feats
n Dubai Marathon, January 16: 1st (2 hours, 52 minutes, 44 seconds)
n London Marathon, April 26: 1st (2:49.47)
n Copenhagen Marathon, May 24: 1st (2:48.39)
n Helsinki World Masters Championships, August 8: 3rd (2:54.59)
n Berlin Marathon, September 20: 2nd (2:55.6)
n New York Marathon, November 1: 1st (2:50.42)
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