Taking a look at recent, positive, uplifting, news stories and yarns, from New Zealand and all around the world, to bring a smile and a bit of cheer.
Teen runner blitzes record
Ever since Roger Bannister broke the for minute mile in 1954, athletes all over the world have chipped away at the time and now, a Kiwi teenager has made headlines around the world with an astonishing run of 3:48.88 minutes at the John Thomas Terrier Classic in Boston, United States. Not only does that mean Sam Ruthe is the fastest under 18 runner over the mile, he also broke the record of one of New Zealand’s most famous runners.
“I didn’t feel like I was going that fast to be honest. I still don’t believe it… I’m completely stoked,’ Ruthe said after the record-breaking outing. ‘There’s definitely more in the tank… I’ve got three more races and could probably go a bit faster,’ he said immediately after the race.
“His performance in Boston on Saturday also set a new New Zealand record for any age, surpassing Olympic gold medalist John Walker’s time of 3:49.08, which he ran in Norway aged 30, more than four decades ago, according to Athletics New Zealand. Walker was the first man in history to run a sub–3:50 mile.
“‘I really didn’t expect to get Walker’s national record (today). I hoped to get it one day but that was a real surprise as I thought it may have been three or four years away. I feel like I’m the luckiest person in the world.'” (Source: “Teen runner sets new record for fastest mile by a junior athlete,” by Laura Sharman and Patrick Snell, February 1, www.edition.cnn.com).
5 – if Sam is running this well and this fast at 16, then he has a very bright future ahead of him!
13 year old saves family
After his mother and two siblings were swept out to sea on paddle boards in Western Australia, a 13 year old swam four kilometres through choppy sea to raise the alarm.
“Naturaliste Marine Rescue commander Paul Bresland said the 47-year-old mother, her 12-year-old son and 8-year-old daughter were eventually found at 8.30pm, clinging to a paddleboard about 14km offshore. Bresland said the efforts of the 13-year-old, who continued to swim to shore through choppy waters, were ‘superhuman’.
“‘He swam in, he reckons, the first two hours with a life jacket on,’ he said. ‘And the brave fella thought he’s not going to make it with a life jacket on, so he ditched it, and he swam the next two hours without a life jacket. I thought, mate, that is incredible.’
“South West Police Inspector James Bradley said it was an important reminder of ocean safety. ‘Thankfully, all three people were wearing life jackets, which contributed to their survival,’ he said. ‘The actions of the 13-year-old boy cannot be praised highly enough – his determination and courage ultimately saved the lives of his mother and siblings.” (Source: “Boy, 13, makes ‘superhuman’ swim to save family swept out to sea off Australia coast,” by Jon Daly, Stan Shaw and Madigan Landry, February 3, www.rnz.co.nz).
5 stars – just astonishing and incredible bravery. Total upside to this young fella!
Downhill racer fastest human alive
Speeding downhill at 158mph (254kmh), world record speed skier Simon Billy, is the fastest human alive – without any mechanical assistance that is.
“The feeling is just crazy. It’s about freedom, just pushing the limits. For sure, every speed skier wants to be, one day, the world record holder. It was my dream,’ he said. That dream came true in 2023, when Billy recorded a speed of 255.500 km/h (158.760 mph), on the slopes in Vars, France. His new standard also eclipsed one of the previous records of 243.902 km/h that was set by his father, Philippe, in 1997.”
“‘You just feel your body going down the hill. You feel the speed in your feet on the skis. This feeling is like a drug for us,’ he says, explaining what’s it like when he’s reaching top speed.” (Source: “World record speed skier Simon Billy describes ‘crazy feeling’ of traveling over 158 mph downhill,” by Ben Church, February 5, www.edition.cnn.com).
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