Sawang Janpram is in a league of his own at the World Masters Games (WMG) in Taiwan — at 105 he is the oldest competitor and the only person in his age group. It meant that Thailand’s Sawang was all but certain to win gold in the men’s 100-plus discus, javelin, shot put and 100 metres. 

All he had to do was finish, and the former school principal reached the 100-metre line in his solo race in a very respectable 38.55 seconds. “I’m proud he’s brought honour to our family,” his 73-year-old daughter Siripan, a fellow evergreen athlete, said.