Thai Athlete Breaks World Record at 106 Years Old

At the age of 106, Thai athlete Sawang Janpram has made headlines by breaking his own world record in the discus throw at the World Masters Athletics Championships held in Daegu, South Korea. Competing in the men’s 100+ age category, Sawang achieved a throw of 7.59 meters on August 27, surpassing his previous record of 7.50 meters set at the 2026 championships in Taiwan.

Sawang was the only competitor in his age group, which allowed him to secure the gold medal by adhering to competition rules. Notably, he used a standard 1-kilogram discus like the other competitors. His performance earned him a gold medal and recognition as the oldest athlete at the event, with a special award presentation scheduled for August 29, according to The Thaiger.

In addition to Sawang's achievement, Thailand's athletics team has performed well overall at the championships, which run from August 22 to September 3, 2026. The Thai team, consisting of 48 athletes, has already secured two gold and two bronze medals. Another standout athlete, Somsanga Boonnok, won a gold medal in the women's 70-74 age category for the 80-meter hurdles, breaking the world record in the process. She also competed in the long jump, finishing with a jump of 3.64 meters, just 0.04 meters behind Finland's Raija Hilden, who took gold with a jump of 3.68 meters.

In the men's 55-59 high jump, Somnuek Wongsaming earned a silver medal by clearing 1.60 meters, finishing behind Sweden's Mattias Sunneborn, who won with a height of 1.65 meters. Somnuek's silver medal was attributed to his age, as he was older than the other competitor who also cleared the same height, as reported by Khaosod English.

Sawang Janpram, born on May 8, 1920, continues to inspire many with his dedication to athletics, regularly participating in various events including running, javelin, shot put, and discus. Earlier this year, he was awarded an honorary degree in sports and exercise science from Thailand National Sports University, which his daughter noted is equivalent to a master’s degree.