Star of Finland worlds? Do initials PR mean anything to you?
Phil Raschker has this habit. Every five years, she picks a world stage to crush the competition and pad her 500-page track resume. So it was at Jyväskylä worlds last week. How well did W65 Phenom Phil do? Not bad: six golds and three silvers, she reports. Oh, and five American records including one world record. Apparently, WMA messed up her medal count and USATF didn’t reflect it in its news roundup. For the record, Phil won world titles in the pentathlon, high jump, triple jump, 60 hurdles, 400 and pole vault (in that order). She won silvers in the 60, 200 and long jump.
Rob Jerome photo of Phil in the 400, with leg taped after triple jump injury.
Rob Jerome writes: “I photographed her as she pulled a muscle in the TJ (after she had already jumped the winning distance). She was in agony, but in true Phil fashion, she taped up and went on to win the 60 meter hurdles just a couple of hours later. Attached is a photo of her winning the 400 … still wearing her tape. She then went on minutes later to win the pole vault. I think only Olga [Kotelko] surpassed Phil in the medal count.
Here’s a summary Phil prepared:
Pentathlon: 4713 points, gold and world record
60 hurdles: 10.62 1123 points and American Record
High jump: 1.30 1119 points
Shot put: 7.55 696 points
Long jump: 4.18 1007 points
800: 3:16.30 768 points
Individual events:
60 hurdles: 12.10 Gold
High jump: 1.22 Gold
Triple jump: 8.76 Gold and American Record
Pole vault: 2.40 Gold
60 dash (heat): 9.35
60 dash (final): 9.36 Silver
200 (heat): 34.20
200 (final): 30.28 Silver and American Record
Long jump: 4.34 Silver and American Record
11 Responses
to Ken the Gentleman:
shhhh: PR is – trotz ihres Aussehens – now W65.
Phil’s achievements are fantastic!
What a character, strong will, mental and physical strength! She deserves admiration.
Olga Kotelko also did miracles, and she also deserves admiration.
When talking about medal counts, one should also take into consideration the number of rivals, the level of the results, etc.
Phil is the rare athlete who is not only World Class in the multi events such as Pentathalon, but also in many of her single event competitions.
We become accustomed to reading about her absolutely remarkable achievements and take it for granted that she will win, and set World Records every time she steps on the track…….but,think about how difficult it actually is for her to accomplish these milestones given the punishing amount of training and resulting injuries that inevitably comes with competing at such a level for so many years!!!!
She is a very special athlete who should be recognized not only for her physical accomplishments but also her ability to avoid the Hubris that almost always accompanies these triumphs.
Phil Raschker remains after 65 years on this planet, one of the finest Female athletes of all time and a humble and truly gracious ambassador for our sport.
“Good on ya Mate”
Roger: Well Said !!!! Anyone at any age, competing in that many events is a strain on the body parts. Phil: Congrats on your continued success and keep the engine running.
In addition to being a great athlete, Phil is a great teacher.
I have photographed her for a number of years, and being on the field, I have listened to her interactions with other athletes and officials. She is always positive and supportive.
Everyone…fellow athletes and officials alike…always seems to do better when Phil is around.
And we can all learn from the way she handles disappointments. I photographed her very nearly setting the World HJ record in the Pentathlon and again attempting the HJ record in the open.
When she missed the record, she said “Oh well, not today” and went on her next event.
Simple but powerful words to live by no matter what endeavor one pursues.
Phil, you are amazing! I hope it is permissible for me to worship you!
Your friend, Ralph
Phil is simply great.
20 yrs – Phil still is amazing —
The chick can steady motate. Smartty
Congratulations once again to the super human achievements performed by Phil, she truly is an inspiration on and off the track. I inspire too be just like her one day!!!
Gotta love Phil!! Superhuman athlete and super human being! Love you Phil!!
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