Sydney Olympic discus champ Elina Zvereva turned 50 last Tuesday. But she’s still got game. Or at least she’s game for the Games. An IAAF article quotes her as saying: “I want to finish my career on the high level. I am more than ever determined to do it. I will try to get to the Olympics Games in London and will make every effort to perform adequately.” Of course, she has to hit the qualifying standard. In 2008, the “A” standard was 61 meters (200-1 1/2) and the “B” was 58 meters (190-3 1/2). In 2010, her best throw was 58.52 (191-11 3/4). So she’s in the hunt. The listed W50 world record? That’s a doable 45.67 (149-10) by American Carol Finsrud in 2007.

Elina needs a big wind and a little luck to make the automatic Olympic qualifying standard of about 200 feet and change.

Here’s the story, in case the link vanishes with age:

Elina Zvereva celebrated her 50th birthday last Tuesday, but retirement is still far from the thoughts of the Belarus discus legend.

At a special event in Minsk on Friday, which not only celebrated her birthday but also her career, Zvereva announced that she intends to compete for at least another two years with the aim of qualifying for the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

If she does make it to London, the 2000 Olympic Games gold medalist will be celebrating her sixth Games, a feat achieved so far by only four other athletes.

Zvereva already holds the admirable Olympic superlative of being the oldest ever winner of an Olympic gold medal, having won in Sydney when she was 39 years and 316 days old.

She is also the oldest medallist, courtesy of her win 10 years ago, and the oldest finalist after finishing sixth in Beijing two years ago at the age of 47.

“I want to finish my career on the high level. I am more than ever determined to do it. I will try to get to the Olympics Games in London and will make every effort to perform adequately,” announced Zvereva, who also won the 1995 and 2001 world titles and holds the Belarus record with the 71.58m she threw back in 1988.

Getting to London will not require a comeback for Zvereva because she has never quit the sport.

Earlier this year, at the age of 49, she won at the Belarus championships with a season’s best of 58.52m.

However, Zvereva was far from satisfied as it was the first time since 1981, apart from when she was injured and did not compete during the whole of 2003, that she has finished a year with a best below 60 metres.

“What is the secret of my longevity in athletics? I’ve always have had a goal and still do, and I love what I do. I like my job,” she added.

Zvereva was born in the Russian town of Dolgoprudny, just outside Moscow, but later spent time in Tula as a student.

“From the first day of my arrival in Belarus from the Russian city of Tula in 1985, I wanted to connect my life with this country, which immediately became my home. I’m glad and happy that I live here,” reflected Zvereva, showing why she has become such a popular figure in Belarus athletics, and discus, circles.

“I was lucky in my life that I’m doing something which I hold dear. I’ve never regretted that I chose the discus. Athletics has been my whole life. I am a happy person, why not? I live in my favourite city and I like what I do.”

There is also a chance that her daughter Alena Bochyna could make it a memorable family occasion in London.

Alena, also a discus thrower, finished sixth at the Belarus national championships, behind her mother, and although she has not yet reached the standards set by Elina, she is rapidly improving.