THREE years ago Heather Lee received a t-shirt for the Perth Masters Games and since then, competing in the games has been at the forefront of her mind.
In Canberra in 2013, Lee received the All-Australian Walks award, and along with the award she was handed the t-shirt for the Masters Games, which starts later this month.
Lee will be just shy of her 90th birthday when she competes from October 26 to November 6 in the Perth Masters Athletics Championship.
Her events will be the five kilometre and 10 kilometre race walks.
“It will be exciting. I love a challenge and this is a challenge,” she said.
“Whether I beat the younger competitors I don't know. They should beat me, they are younger than me but I will give them a run for their money.”
Lee’s competitiveness has seen her enter into a tough training regime, particularly over the past 12 months, to prepare for the games.
She wants to do well, and makes no bones about the fact she wants to see her name in the world records.
“This last year I have really worked hard,” she said.
“I have put every ounce of my energy into it, I've thought about nothing else except doing this competition.”
Lee said as far as she was aware, in her age group there would only be two other competitors, both Australian.
However, a 90-year-old Romanian woman will be who Lee keeps her eye on the most.
Lee will walk in the 85-89 years category, but is mere days too young to qualify for the 90-94 year category, which the Romanian, Elena Pagu, will compete in.
Lee said she intends to use Pagu as her yard stick.
Lee said even making it to the games was an achievement in itself, and she was earnestly looking forward to heading to Perth.
“I am absolutely stoked to be going. There are 89 countries competing in the Games I believe,’ she said.
“It was my wildest dream, I wanted to go.”
Lee said since winning the award in 2013, the Games had been her goal, but had to be realistic about things given her age, which made it all the more special that she was fit enough to go.
