Israeli Runner Will Be One of Oldest at Olympics (Read 421 times)

One of the oldest athletes at the Beijing Olympics this summer will be a Israeli marathon runner. He's name is Haile Satayin, he immigrated to Israel from Ethiopia. He's passport says he's 53 years old, but Satayin insist he is only 48. NPR's Linda Gradstein has his profile. LINDA GRADSTEIN: Most days, Haile Satayin gets up around 4:30 in the morning, and runs at least a half marathon, before it gets too hot. His favorite running spot is a forest on the edge of the town of Hadera, in central Israel. Watching Satayin run, is a little like watching a cheetah, his loping strides seem effortless, and you don't realize how fast he's going. But one of his running partners, Dror Haziza, uses a different analogy. Mr. DROR HAZIZA (Israeli Marathon Runner, Haile Satayin's Running Partner): A roadrunner. Neet(ph), neet. GRADSTEIN: Haziza says Satayin has a special style. Mr. HAZIZA: (Through Translator) He just flows. There's no resistance at all. Sometimes I feel that I'm fighting to run, but with him, there's no fight. It just comes naturally. When he runs with us, the whole group gets to a new level. [...]