A sprinter, winner of a gold medal, began to run at 100, died at 108 – AOL

A mother of four, who began to run at the age of 100 and continued to set world records and win gold medals, died at the age of 108.

Julia Hawkins, called the “hurricane” because of her ability to run, died on October 22 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, after “very short illness,” her daughter Margaret Matens confirmed to Abc News.

Meatons said that Hawkins’ body would be donated, at her request, to the Center for Biomedical Research Penington at the Louisiana State University, who studied longevity.

“She had a lot of difficulties,” Matenes said of her mother’s extraordinary life, who survived her four children, as well as three grandchildren and two great -grandchildren.

Hawkins told Good Morning, America in 2019 that she focused on running at the age of 100 as an alternative to racing cycling, a sport in which she also won numerous national titles after taking it later in Life.

Among the other titles, Hawkins set a world record in running 100 meters at the 2017 National Adult Games.

Two years later, at the 2019 National Adult Games, Hawkins won gold medals both in 50 meters running and in 100 meters running in the division over 100 meters in women.

103-year-old nickname “Hurricane” won another gold per 100m

At that time, it was thought that Hawkins was the oldest woman to compete on the American track, according to the National Adult Games Association, the non-profit organization that manages the national adult games.

“I just keep busy. I continue to move, “Hawkins told GMA in 2019 about her secret of longevity. “I don’t do much exercise. I did, but I don’t think I already need it.”

“I have always been careful about eating, eating healthy and keeping my weight at some point,” she added.

Meatons said that Hawkins also attributes his longevity to his many passions, which include fishing with fly, gardening, reading, growing bonsai trees and watching football at Louisian State University.

The late Hawkins husband, who died in 2013 at the age of 95, was a professor at LSU, according to Matens.

Hawkins participated in his last race three years ago at the age of 105 in his hometown of Louisiana.

Elizabeth Francis, the oldest living person in the United States, died at 115 years old

According to Matenes, she set a new record during the race as the only woman in the 105-109 age group to run 100 meters.

A sprinter, winner of a gold medal, began to run at 100, died at 108, originally appeared on Goodmorningamerica.com