Kamloops medalist Doug Watson, featured yesterday, isn’t the only Oregonian to make a strong showing at worlds. Our attention is pointed toward a neat profile of a married pair who both brought home hardware from Kamloops. Check this out. It’s about M60 Todd Taylor and strongwoman wife Joy of Molalla, Oregon. And get this: “The grandparents of four now have more than 25 national championship titles between them.” Can any couple in the throws approach that figure? Didn’t think so.

The couple that throws together wins medals together. Todd (center) took M60 hammer gold, and Joyce (right) claimed W55 weight throw bronze.

Here’s the story, in case the link goes bye-bye:

Molalla grandparents master throwing

By: Diana Cox Published: 3/30/2010 1:59:54 PM

Todd and Joyce Taylor of Molalla recently competed in the World Masters Athletics Championships, an organization for competitors 35 and older who compete in age groups divided into five year increments to over 100 years of age, in Kamloops, British Columbia March 1-6 and brought home some hardware in the weight and hammer throws.

Todd, 63, won the gold medal in the hammer throw in the 60-64 age group with a mark of 50.61 meters and narrowly missed a second gold in the weight throw by 2 centimeters with a mark of 18.64 meters.
Joyce, 59, won the silver medal in the hammer throw in the 55-59 age group with a mark of 32.87 meters and bronze in the weight throw with a throw of 11.49 meters.

Todd, who works as a security manager for Siltronic, a Portland based high technology company and Joyce, who works in budget and financial management for Bank of America, began competing in Masters Track and Field 13 years ago.

Todd was 50 years old and discovered that Nike was going to be sponsoring the World Masters Games in Oregon in 1998 and decided to give competition a try once again after a youth and young adulthood as an accomplished athlete. He called it a “mid-life challenge.”

“I thought it would be fun to try the hammer again, especially since the technique had changed and involved as much athleticism as strength,” he said.

He approached Lance Deal who won the silver medal in the hammer throw at the 1996 summer Olympics in Atlanta, about possibly training him. Deal agreed and Todd got straight to work putting on 30 pounds in the weight room and learning the modern technique for the hammer throw.

In 1997 he finished third at the Masters National Championships and in 1998 won the silver medal at the World Masters Games.

“I really surprised myself,” he said. “And as I improved I kept pushing my goals higher to eventually desire the gold medal and title of world champion.”

Joyce had never competed in any track and field events and was not as thrilled about the idea as her husband was.

“I was the camera lady the first two years,” Joyce said. “But knowing my athletic ability Todd encouraged me to start throwing. The hammer is very technical and it was challenging to just stay on my feet in the ring but I soon overcame and started really enjoying the feel when you have a good throw.”

The grandparents of four now have more than 25 national championship titles between them. Todd has set national records in five different age groups for distance in the hammer and weight throw and holds the national record for the Ultraweigth Pentathlon for combined scoring across weights of 20, 44, 56, 98 and 200 pounds. Joyce won the silver medal at the 2003 World Championships held in Puerto Rico and holds Oregon and Northwest Region records in the hammer and weight throw.

Their journey of competition has taken the two all across the United States and to Canada and Puerto Rico. They have also formed national as well as international friendships with competitors in Australia, Germany and Ireland with whom they exchange country pins, t-shirts and e-mails.

“Some of our closest friends came from meeting at events around the United States,” Joyce said. “The international friendships really helped to bridge the cultural differences and reminded us how they are basically no different than we are.”

Competing in the Masters has also given them inspiration and a glimpse of what the human body is capable of, no matter its age.

“The really old athletes, the ones 80 to 100 are amazing,” Joyce said. “They are so encouraging for the younger folks.”

In Masters terms ‘younger folks’ are those who have yet to celebrate their 80th birthday.

Before Todd even earned his first medal in the Masters he was already an accomplished athlete of yore. In grade school he held the youth city record in Portland for the 50-yard dash and was an All-State and All-American football player at Central Catholic High School in Portland.

“In grade school I was short and quick. In high school I started out as a sprinter and jumper but as I put on muscle in the weight room I focused on football,” he said.

It was during his college years at Wesleyan University in Connecticut where he played on a conference championship football team that he became interested in throwing events.

“My freshman roommate was a shot-putter and I became fascinated with the hammer throw when I went to practice with him.”

In those days the technique involved dragging the ball around from the hips and size and strength of the thrower were the biggest factors.

“I was competitive as that level but nothing special,” Todd said.

While her future husband was active in competitive sports since childhood things were different for Joyce. When she was growing up Title IX was merely a twinkle in the eye of the feminist movement and competitive sports opportunities for women and girls were limited.

“Until I married Todd I was just active in recreational sports,” Joyce said. “After we got married 30 years ago I started engaging in more competitive sports like racquetball and played on a woman’s baseball team.”

Always athletic, Joyce won a novice championship her first time out for racquetball and had the highest batting average on her baseball team.

The Taylors, who have lived in Molalla for 10 years, put their talents and love of physical fitness to good use by helping others as well.

Todd is now a certified USA Track and Field Level II throws coach and offers private coaching. One of his students was the Washington State High School champion in the hammer throw. He also coached at Mt. Hood Community College for seven years where he led students to conference championships in every throwing event.

Joyce trains and works out with about eight women in the Taylors home gym in their garage, most of whom are also grandmothers.

The Taylors advice to others, especially those in their age group, who are wanting to begin a fitness routine is simple: just start.

“You will stick with something you have a passion for so find your passion and just start,” Joyce said. “If you are in your fifties or sixties what will you do with the next 40 years? Don’t waste a day.”

They also advise to find a partner or group as it makes it easier to get started or to join a club or league to help with commitment levels.

“You can set incremental personal improvement goals and still have a lot of fun without being super competitive,” Todd said.

“Don’t worry if you aren’t the best or are struggling along,” Joyce said. “It is the struggle where you live, learn and appreciate life.”