Centenarian century legend Jaskulski dies at 103
On my Hawaii vacation, I learned the sad news of the passing of Erwin Jaskulski, the Austrian expat who held the M100 record for 100 for four years. Blind in recent years, he retired from track. He passed away a month ago, but his legend will never die. He joins fellow M100 100m record-holder Everett Hosack in that great masters meet in the sky. One obituary said a memorial service is planned for early May.
Erwinās 36.19 in 2000 was bettered by the current record of 30.86 by South Africaās Phil āRabinoblitzā Rabinowitz in July 2004.
Another obit, in The Honolulu Advertiser, said:
Even fitness guru Gilad Janklowicz was impressed the first time he saw Erwin Jaskulski more than 20 years ago.
āI saw him on the beach doing some incredible feats of exercise, standing on his head, running, doing pushups,ā said Janklowicz, host and producer of the āGiladās Bodies in Motionā TV show. āI thought he was in his mid-60s. Then I found out he was 82 years old.ā
From that day, a āreally incredible, unusual friendship developedā that lasted until Jaskulskiās death March 10 at the age of 103.
Janklowicz often would go on hikes with Jaskulski, a Hawaiāi resident since 1954. The two last spoke the day before he died.
āHe was a very, very fascinating man,ā Janklowicz said. ā(Weād) talk about different things, music, sports, philosophy, ways of life, about every possible subject.ā
According to Janklowicz, Jaskulski was an avid classical music fan, but his main philosophy āwas to be happy and joyful in life.ā Whenever Janklowicz saw Jaskulski working out the elder would say, āāIām exercising my joy muscles.ā ā
At one time, Jaskulski held the world record for the 100 meters, 200 meters and 400 meters in both the 95- to 99-year-old and the 100-plus age groups.
Janklowicz called Jaskulski āan inspirationā because of his commitment and discipline.
āEven at 101 he would talk to me about his techniques and how he could improve his time.ā
Jaskulski is survived by two sons, both of whom live in Austria, according to Janklowicz. Services are pending.
