RCAF athlete earns track and field gold in Regina

News Article / September 20, 2013

Master Warrant Officer (MWO) Claude Faucher, a Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) veteran of 28 years, does not consider age as an obstacle where track and field competition is concerned and he proved it this summer.

MWO Faucher, of 1 Canadian Air Division and Canadian NORAD Region Headquarter in Winnipeg, Manitoba, competed at the Canadian Masters Outdoor Track and Field Championship in Regina, Saskatchewan, from July 26 to 28, where he ran against athletes of comparable age and ability and scored two gold medals.

“I beat all comers hands down,” says MWO Faucher. “I feel good. I’ve worked hard all year training for this.”

To prepare for the Canadian Masters, the veteran fleet readiness maintenance technician competed in the Manitoba track and field circuit earlier in the year, which involved competing against a predominantly younger crop of athletes.

Thanks to his preparation and training, he won two gold medals in Regina, the first was for running the fastest time in the 1,500 metre race, while his second was for finishing first in the 800 metre.

Participants from across the provinces and territories were joined this year by athletes from the United-States, New Zealand, India and Jamaica. But it was an octogenarian from British Columbia who impressed MWO Faucher the most during the finals.

“I saw this woman named Olga Kotelko, who was 94 years old from B.C., run an amazing 29.16 seconds in the 100-metre dash to win against another woman, 97-year-old Man Kaur from India!” said MWO Faucher.

The Canadian Masters Outdoor Track and Field Championships may be over but the image of Olga Kotelko of B.C., screeching across that finish line will be seared into MWO Faucher's memory for some time to come.

Meanwhile, MWO Faucher plans to participate at the World Masters Track and Field Championships to be held in Lyon, France in 2015.

The Canadian Masters Athletics groupings were done in five-year brackets beginning at age 35-40 and up to 100 and beyond.

About Canadian military fitness standards

Members of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) must ensure they meet the fitness levels required to deploy on operations here at home and around the world. CAF physical fitness programs, standards and policies are designed to prepare and assess a CAF member’s ability to meet and surpass the physical rigors of CAF operations.

To learn more about Canadian military fitness standards, visit the Canadian Armed Forces Fitness website.