Growing Bolder dissects jump comeback of Dr. Richard Konsens
Growing Bolder has a great video on M55 long jumper Richard Konsens, “who thought his track and field days were over when it was time to graduate into the ‘real world.’ In fact, on the day of his graduation from Dartmouth College, the Ivy League long-jumping champion went to the pits to take his last jump in his cap and gown. Or so he thought.” Thus began a recounting of his comeback, which eventually led to Lyon this summer and a 10th-place finish (5.05 in prelims, or 16-6 3/4). His college best was 7.37 meters (24-2.25). He won state at 23-6.25. Notable in his LJ resurrection was how careful he was. He got coaching help and apparently avoided injury after being out of the game three decades — as befits an orthopedic surgeon. Nice work, Doc! Stay healthy.
Click through here for video of Richard’s inspiring long jump story.
Here’s the rest of the intro to the video:
More than 30 years later, he learned that a former teammate was competing in the world of masters track and field. He was intrigued. Now a successful orthopedic surgeon at Jewett Orthopaedic Clinic, he’d watched his patients continue to pursue their passions for sport well into their 50s, 60s 70s, 80s and beyond. So why couldn’t he? The answer: he could.
He also had a more personal motivation: proving to his teenage sons that they can do anything when they set a goal and work hard to achieve it.
Learn about his return to the sport of his youth and see how it even took him across the world to the world championships! See how his experiences have helped this highly regarded physician better understand the mindset of the aging athlete. He shares his message for anyone who thinks they’re too old to get active again.
2 Responses
That is such an inspirational video and story of Richard Konsens. Anybody that I meet who is contemplating getting back into our sport, I will be sure to have them watch this! I believe that a lot of people these days wonder what they could do if they started training again but many lack the confidence to give it a go. Like Richard says, he wanted to show his kids what can happen when you have a goal AND the right plan to achieve it.
It really is an excellent video on how to prepare for athletics and worth watching by any athlete of any age.
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