AN 80-YEAR-OLD race walker is planning to represent his country in a world championship event despite only just coming back from injury.
Mick Barker, who only returned to race walking after a 50-year break earlier this year, is recovering before he is due to compete in next month’s World Masters Athletics Championships in Spain.
Mick, of Lavender Court, Kendray, won a bronze medal in the European Masters Athletics Championship at his comeback in May, but on Sunday he is flying to Malaga to represent Great Britain and Northern Ireland in three races 5km track walk, 10km road walk and the 20km road walk.
“I had two separate falls again resulting in my admission to Barnsley Hospital and I had many injuries including a fractured wrist which I am still suffering with,” he said.
“Plus dehydration during a 20km time trial just a few weeks ago.”
He added that: “The big concern for me is I haven’t been able to do the required training of such a high level necessary to take on the world’s best to compete but I shall do my best for my country.”
Mick has been race walking since he was a teenager but had to give up the sport after his wife, Marlene, suffered from two strokes.
In the past he has won a number of races both in this country and internationally including the 12 mile Sheffield Star walk where he set the record of 98 minutes and 15 seconds which he still holds to this day.
Another won of his wins was receiving gold in June at the British Masters Athletics 5km Track Race Walk Championships in Oxford where he was competing in heat as high as 80 degrees.
Race walking is a foot race whereby athletes must walk at the fastest pace they possibly can but at all times keeping one foot on the ground.
