- Title: ARGENTINA: TENNIS: Ninety-five year-old Argentine takes on all comers in tennis.
- Date: 17th September 2012
- Summary: BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA (SEPTEMBER 13, 2012) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF RIVER PLATE MONUMENTAL STADIUM VARIOUS OF 95-YEAR-OLD TENNIS PLAYER, ARTIN ELMAYAN, IN LOCKER ROOM VARIOUS OF ELMAYAN CARRYING RACKET AND HEADING TO TENNIS COURTS VARIOUS OF ELMAYAN ARRIVING TO TENNIS COURTS VARIOUS OF ELMAYAN PUTTING ON WRISTBANDS AND DRINKING WATER (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) 95-YEAR-OLD TENNIS PLAYER, ARTIN ELMAYAN, SAYING: "Eighty-five plus, because there isn't anyone who's 90, much less 95. So I have to play against 85-year-olds." JOURNALIST ASKING: "How do you do in the tournaments?" "I do all right, sometimes I take second place. Last year I won second place twice. It depends on the state of my opponent, and my own. There are no enigmas here." ELMAYAN LIFTING THE TENNIS BALL BETWEEN HIS FOOT AND HIS RACKET VARIOUS OF ELMAYAN HITTING BALLS WITH A TENNIS INSTRUCTOR (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) 95-YEAR-OLD TENNIS PLAYER, ARTIN ELMAYAN, SAYING: "If my body and feet allow it, I'm not gonna sit still. As far as stretching [warming up], I take the train and walk from the station to here. When I get here I've already loosened up." VARIOUS OF ELMAYAN HITTING BALLS WITH INSTRUCTOR (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) 95-YEAR-OLD TENNIS PLAYER, ARTIN ELMAYAN, SAYING: "First there is eating and then comes tennis. It is part of my life to stay in shape in every way. [Tennis] makes you breathe oxygen, keeps your body in shape, keeps you from getting a belly, or getting fat, helps fight cholesterol problems and everything. Now, if you stop coming, if I go two months without playing, I'll get a belly." ELMAYAN'S SHADOW AS HE PLAYS VARIOUS OF ELMAYAN PLAYING TENNIS CLOSE-UP OF ELMAYAN WHILE PLAYING VARIOUS OF ELMAYAN PLAYING VARIOUS OF ELMAYAN LIFTING A TENNIS BALL BY SQUEEZING IT BETWEEN HIS FEET AND JUMPING
- Embargoed: 2nd October 2012 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Argentina
- Country: Argentina
- Topics: Sports
- Reuters ID: LVA98RUSU61NLO9QWODLKDXZYDG4
- Story Text: Nonagenarian Argentine says competitive tennis keeps him trim.
Argentina's oldest registered tennis player, thought to be the oldest formally competitive tennis player in the world, says the sport is the secret to his longevity, but at 95-years-old Artin Elmayan is in an age bracket all his own and has to play against younger opponents if he wants to compete in regional tournaments.
The energetic senior takes the train and walks several blocks to the River Plate Athletic Club in Buenos Aires three days a week to keep in tiptop form so he can bring it on in senior tournaments where he has no choice but to play against the 'youngsters'.
"Eighty-five plus, because there isn't anyone who's 90, much less 95. So I have to play against 85-year-olds," Elmayan said.
"I do all right, sometimes I take second place. Last year I won second place twice. It depends on the state of my opponent, and my own. There are no enigmas here," Elmayan added.
He says he never had formal training and learned to hold a racquet playing Basque pelota, a popular wooden-paddle sport in Argentina.
Elmayan's 67-year-old practice buddy was out with an injury when Reuters caught up with him, but that didn't stop the boisterous sportsman from scuttling across the court to hit a few balls with a trainer at the club.
He said he picked up the sport as a hobby when he was 39 and has stuck to it ever since saying he has no plans of slowing down anytime soon.
"If my body and feet allow it, I'm not gonna sit still. As far as stretching [warming up], I take the train and walk from the station to here. When I get here I've already loosened up," said Elmayan.
He said it takes him about 30 minutes to really engage his mind, body and muscles at practice.
Born in Armenia, Elmayan moved to Argentina when he was 21-years-old and said he still eats a "strong Armenian diet" with lots of garlic and onions, but says the secret to his long life is staying active on the court.
"First there is eating and then comes tennis. It is part of my life to stay in shape in every way. [Tennis] makes you breathe oxygen, keeps your body in shape, keeps you from getting a belly, or getting fat, helps fight cholesterol problems and everything. Now, if I were to stop coming, if I went two months without playing, I'd get a belly," he said.
Elmayan only walked away from the school uniform business two-years ago at 93-years-old, meaning he has had more time to hone his skills and "look up at the sun," when he isn't embarrassing his competitors on the court. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2012. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
