In Milan, during the Milan Marathon, the finish line has become the symbol of an extraordinary feat. Giuseppe Damato, 90 years old, born in Turin in 1936, has in fact set the new world record in the M90 category, completing the 42 kilometers and 195 meters in 4 hours, 30 minutes and 30 seconds. A result that breaks down a record that seemed destined to stand for a long time: that of the Italian Antonio Rao, who has been out of action since 2023. The difference is clear, almost an hour and 45 minutes less, a gap that tells more than just a simple sporting performance.
A life that started running “late”
However, Damato’s story was not born on the slopes. His passion for running exploded at the age of 73, after a long life dedicated to cycling. Long journeys, challenging climbs and even the Turin–Naples crossing by bicycle. Then an accident forces him to change direction and the turning point arrives, almost unexpectedly: running shoes replace the two wheels and his second sporting life takes shape. The first marathon finished in 3 hours and 40 minutes was already a clear signal: not a beginner, but an athlete with off-the-scale endurance.
17 marathons and a secret: never stop
Milan was the 17th official marathon of his career, a number that speaks of continuity rather than exception. Damato has never stopped moving: he runs, trains and even continues to play tennis twice a week. His light physique – 1.60 meters and 49 kilos – seems built for endurance. But it is not just the form that is striking, but also the consistency: a daily discipline that has transformed movement into a lifestyle.
Behind the record there is not just training, but a precise mentality. Damato has always lived on the move, even in his working life, running a small parquet company for years without ever giving up physical activity. Interviewed after the finish line, he said he did not feel particularly tired, also supported by the presence of his family along the route.
The future has already begun
Despite the record, the gaze is already ahead. The next event is the Turin half marathon next Sunday, but the most ambitious objective has already been declared: to return to Milan in 2027 to further improve one’s record. A perspective that overturns every expectation about age: for Damato, time is not a limit, but a distance to travel. And perhaps this is his real record.
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