Douglas Kalembo shares DOB proof: passport and driver’s license

Douglas Kalembo is indeed 49, and his recent 50.02 for 400 should be recognized as an M45 world record. Today he sent me images of his passport and driver’s license, which both indicate July 24, 1960, as his date of birth. Driver’s licenses aren’t always reliable. But passports — especially American ones — are pretty much a gold standard for accuracy, since a birth certificate is required (or other solid proof). In addition, the photo of Douglas on these documents hardly looks like a 39-year-old man. He holds dual citizenship (U.S. and Zambia), so he can claim two national records. Congrats to Douglas, and we hope he’ll soon be the oldest man to go sub-50 in the 4.

Passport indicates July 24, 1960, date of birth for Zambia-born Douglas.

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June 28, 2010

23 Responses

  1. Tony Echeandia - June 28, 2010

    Congratulations!

  2. saladin allah - June 28, 2010

    Congrats, Douglas ! I’m hoping to get healthy enough during the season to challenge the M50 record…..Even if you lower it. Good luck.

  3. Pole Vault Power - June 28, 2010

    It would be interesting to hear what he was doing between ages 18-28.

  4. Bubba Sparks - June 28, 2010

    That has to be a fake. Someone that fast should have a blurred photo even when sitting still. 😉 Congrats!!

  5. Don Drummond - June 28, 2010

    This m45 WR needs to be recorded.

    Ken! Send Doug the paperwork, since you have his contact information. Great Running Douglas! I am sure many are waiting for you to show up at Nationals or Worlds.

  6. Aaron Thigpen - June 28, 2010

    Smokin! Cant wait to see him run at nationals.

  7. Anthony Treacher - June 28, 2010

    50.02 for the 400m is a truly great performance by 49 year old Douglas Kalembo. But can he really claim two national records for one and the same race? And how will the WR be recorded – Douglas Kalembo USA or Douglas Kalembo Zambia?

    There are many logical and practical problems with dual citizenship, which is why I have avoided it.

    Anyway, nothing can detract from Douglas’ performance. Well done.

  8. peter taylor - June 28, 2010

    Aaron, I am looking forward to seeing you run the 100 in Sacramento. This year, however, I don’t think that Las Vegas will be installing you as a 1 to 5 favorite, as it might have in previous years (if Vegas established odds on masters). You have a very nice field to deal with at Sacramento.

    Still haven’t forgotten about the 10.60 FAT you ran in April 2007 at Mt. SAC Relays (wind legal). Now that we are talking about records for Mr. Douglas Kalembo, I am reminded of the record time you ran in a major USATF-sanctioned meet with FAT (Mt. SAC) WITHOUT getting credit for that American record (it was event 620, as you and I both recall).

  9. Lindy Raney - June 28, 2010

    Absolutely blazing for 49.

  10. Matt B. - June 28, 2010

    My father in law’s Passport does not have the right age on it. (Fiji) Trust me many folks who came from other countries originally lie about their age in order to gain work. They add a few years – now I am not saying that Douglas did this, or that he added ten years. What I am saying as a fact is that Passport’s are not always reliable and -NO birth certificates are not required or any other proof. In Fiji they didn’t even have a place to get an official document such as a birth certificate, because they did not keep accurate records. It is like this in many other countries especially so if you came through a few other countries to eventually end up in the US. Anyway great job by Douglas none the less even if he was only 40. Don’t always trust a passport though.

  11. Johnny Speed - June 28, 2010

    Douglas, Nice job – Congrats

  12. Aaron Thigpen - June 28, 2010

    Thanks Peter. Unfortunately, this will be a very tough year for me. I rolled my foot at World Indoors and have been suffering from a mid foot strain ever since. Ive had only 3 outdoor races since and the last one 3 weeks ago in Sacramento I strained my hamstring. I just had my first week of running this week. I’ll be there but honestly Lonnie is the man to beat. I will do my best to make him or any others earn it.

  13. al cestero - June 28, 2010

    congratulations for the scorching time,douglas and best wishes for the future….to aaron…your injury is a tough one…you want it to heal quickly, but sometimes it lingers, and no doubt causes other imbalances in your performance…the good news is that before you can blink, this year will be history, and you’ll be looking to the next…smiles are speedy…frowns slow you down

  14. Byrke Beller - June 28, 2010

    Wow! If he is the claimed age, major wow! I am awed.

  15. Marie Kay - June 28, 2010

    Mmmm wondering if Enrico & Douglas will both be in Sacremento next year… what a race that will be!!

  16. peter taylor - June 29, 2010

    American records in the 400 are 48.44 by James King for M40 and 50.20 by Fred Sowerby for M45. Both King and Sowerby were right at the beginning of the age group (ages 40 and 45, respectively) when they set these marks. Thus, Douglas Kalembo’s 50.02 at the top of the age group (49) is beyond magnificent. Hard to say how good it is — Beamonesque? Should we say it is Kalemboesque?

    Aaron Thigpen, sorry about your injury. Yes, Lonnie Hooker is very, very tough. We will see what happens in about 3.5 weeks.

  17. Jerry Smartt - June 29, 2010

    Awesome, Douglas. Congratulations. The key is to never stop. Birth certificates are another story. My original had 4 mistakes. Our names(father, mother, and moi)were misspelled and the date of birth was wrong. My original passport used that info for the passport. During an AAU tour of Africa, in order to get OUT of Africa, I had to sign my name with the incorrect spelling. Eventually, I went before a notary and the corrections were made. The story is even more fascinating and I’ll be happy to share it, if asked. Smartty

  18. Cornell - June 29, 2010

    Wow, Wow, and Wow again for that performance. I hope to get healthy enough to be that fast again. Good Luck!

  19. Keith Thompson - August 12, 2010

    49.86. Pretty amazing. Perhaps too amazing. A google of ‘Douglas Kalembo’ shows that a Zambian athlete of the same name ran a 46 second 400m in the ’88 Seoul Olympics. However, his birthdate on the Olympics site is given as July 24, 1970. Perhaps that is an incorrect date, for that would make him only 18 at the time, but this discrepancy needs explanation.

    http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ka/douglas-kalembo-1.html

  20. sonia - December 8, 2010

    congrads im so proud of you!!!!!! you deserve it all the hard work you put in.

  21. Newton Chabala - May 9, 2015

    My name is Newton Chabala.I was born on 22nd October 1964.We grew up together with Douglas in Chingola.He even used to stay with us at times at home. We were in the same class from Form 1 to Form 5. I.e 1979 to 1983. I completed for 5 at the age of 19 in 1983. Douglas used to be 4 yrs older than..now what’s this story that he was born in 1970? If you want to verify my story ask the young man Samuel [Matete] the former WC 400MTRS hurdles or any other Zambia from Chingola.

  22. Ben Ami - May 10, 2015

    He looks like a 59-year-old man, trust me. Howard Dell (Born: April 14, 1962) compete for Romania, and looks like 39-year=old man 🙂
    https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150227288146001&set=a.480457061000.262377.629536000&type=1&theater

  23. Newton Chabala - May 11, 2015

    My name is Newton Chabala.I was born on 22nd October 1964.We grew up together with Douglas in Chingola.He even used to stay with us at times at home. We were in the same class from Form 1 to From 5. I.e 1979 to 1983. I completed for 5 at the age of 19 in 1983. Douglas used to be 4 yrs older than..now what’s this story that he was born in 1970. If you want to verify my story ask the young man Samuel Matte the former WC 400MTRS hurdles or any other Zambia from Chingola.

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