Fan’s Athletic Career
Fan's athletic career is more than a powerful list of medals, records and honors. It is a testament to her inner strength as a human being and her determination to serve. She says in her speeches, "My goal in life is to help others to motivate themselves", "Just Keep Moving" and "I just forgot to get older".Complete Summary of Fan's Athletic Achievements
She often begins a motivational talk with, "I want to let you in on a secret. I am having a love affair at (Whatever her age is then). And my husband does not even care!" After the inevitable laughter, she says, "Yes, I am having a Love Affair with Life! And you can Too."
One of her Media Releases tells a fascinating story about this amazing human who is your candidate for Addison City Council.
23 August 2003
RELEASE DATE: IMMEDIATE, Addison, Texas
FAN DOES IT AGAIN AT 85 YEARS OLD – HER GREATEST COMEBACK – TO WIN SEVEN GOLD WORLD AND U.S. MEDALS & SET TWO NEW RECORDS;
REMAINS INSPIRATION TO YOUTH AND MATURE FOR LIFETIME FITNESS
(Dallas Texas) FAN, a.k.a. Fan Benno-Caris of Addison, Texas, is known for relentless comebacks from injury to achieve even greater racewalking results in U.S National and International competitions. Once again she has “Broken the Age Barrier”. This time at 85. The last four months, starting in April 2003, are the culmination of her most amazing story of crisis and comeback – to date. Seven Gold Medals (Three World Master Athletic medals, Two National USAT&F medals, Two Regional USAT&F medals) and Two Records (One World record and One US National record).
The story begins in Brisbane Australia in July 2001 where she won two World Masters Athletic Championship medals – The Gold Medal in the 10,000 meter Racewalk and the Silver Medal in the 5,000 meter Racewalk. During those races she was aware that there was something wrong with her energy and stamina, but she won medals in spite of it.
Upon returning to her home she began to plan and train for two World Golds in the next World Masters Athletics Campionships in July 2003 in Puerto Rico. However, something happened on her way to the goals. She progressively lost her ability to walk at competitive speed. She gasped for breath after climbing a few stair steps. She gave a public speech that she knew well and forgot what she was saying, was unsteady on her feet and even was not sure of what was happening around her. Her blood pressure was like yo-yo going from below 120 to over 200 in a matter of hours. She was both frightened that her life, not just her athletic career and emerging speaking career, were nearly over. Characteristically she was determined as ever to get to the bottom of this mystery and to comeback again.
Months of medical consultations and medicines were to little or no avail. She was getting worse. Then finally in early 2002 a remarkable team of heart specialists took special interest in her case. Dr. Arno Jensen and Dr. Nina Radford of the famous Cooper Clinic in Dallas first got her blood pressure under control and then performed a series of definitive tests that pointed toward a critical failure in Fan’s heart. The natural electrical connections to the lower half of Fan’s heart were broken! It was not getting the signals to know when to beat. Dr. Jose Joglar of Southwestern Medical School, a leading heart surgeon and also an active athlete, confirmed the diagnosis and did the surgery to implant a special type of sports pacemaker into Fan’s chest. Their interest and professionalism are essential to this story.
Almost immediately after the operation she knew she would comeback again – But it was going to be a long, long path to regain the conditioning she had lost. Her medical team remained Fan’s biggest supporters and cheering section. Her progress back was continuous, but it was difficult. In late February she turned 85 and was excited that she entered a new competitive age group. This was to her advantage. Her goal of two World Gold Medals in the upcoming World Maters Athletics Championships in Puerto Rico was back on her radar screen. Her disciplined process of getting back to race pace for 10,000 meters (6.2 miles) continued.
Now the story of the last four months begins. On April 12, 2003 in a USAT&F Southwest Regional Meet in Coppell, Texas Fan set a US Record in the 5000 Meter Racewalk for Women 85-89 at 42 minutes 25 seconds, bettering the old record by more than 2 minutes. On June 14 at another USAT&F Southwest Regional meet at Coppell, Texas she completed the 3000 meter Racewalk in World Record time of 27 minutes 26 seconds for Women 85. This record, now submitted and pending, is 10 seconds better than the previous record.
Then come the two concluding chapters of her inspiring comeback story.
First - In Carolina, Puerto Rico in July 2003 at the World Masters Athletic Championships she won three WMA Gold Medals – Personal Gold Medals in the 5000 meter and 10,000 meter Racewalks for Women 85-89 and a US Women Team Gold Medal in the 10,000 meter Racewalk for Women 70-74. It is interesting that the US Women in age 70-74 needed another competitor to complete their team and asked Fan to join their team even though she was 15 years older. The weather conditions in Puerto Rico were the most difficult she can recall – both temperature and humidity near 90.
Second – In Eugene, Oregon in August 2003 at the USAT&F National Championships Fan won two US National Gold Medals in the 5000 meter and 10,000 meter Racewalks for Women 85-89.
One of her Gold Medals at Eugene, Oregon was won on the one year anniversary day of her heart pacemaker operation.
That is the story – to date. Fan has broadened her program goals to include track and field events in addition to racewalking events at upcoming USAT&F and WMA meets. She says that few women her age even attempt the running and field events, like the discus, shot and javelin. So she has a new area of sport to enter.
These most recent achievements are especially important to her because they prove she has recovered from the nearly disastrous heart crisis and has continued the two things that have distinguished her developing sports career since she began competitive athletics in 1989 at age 70 – Consistency and Progression. Now Fan has a new crisis and comeback true story to add to her motivational talks to a wide range of audiences. She is indeed the “The Poster Child” and spokesperson for the richness of life for all, not just mature persons. Younger persons constantly tell her that they have a new concept and model and inspiration for becoming older – They want to be just like Fan.
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Contact Fan Benno-Caris by email to ask questions and talk about the issues Addison faces in the coming years.