Stefan Waltermann is a world-class athlete at age 58

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http://www.charlotte.com/catawba/story/403338.html

CATAWBA VALLEY PEOPLE | CHANDA BLITCH
At 58, he's a world-class track and field athlete
Stefan Waltermann was born to run.

In September, Waltermann, who turns 58 this month, went to the 12th World Masters Athletics Championship in Riccione, Italy, where he competed in the decathlon in the Masters 55-59 age group.

The decathlon is the ultimate challenge in track and field. On day one, participants do the 100-meter sprint, long jump, shot put, high jump and 400-meter, followed on day two by 100-meter hurdles, discus throw, pole vault, javelin and the 1,500-meter.

Waltermann, of Caldwell County, finished 13th out of 41 participants from around the world in his age bracket. With more than 5,000 points, he also reached the American elite standard of All American.

What makes a 58-year-old businessman want to train for -- and excel in -- high-level track and field?

"The whole training only has one purpose -- to have everyone eat dust when I'm 100," Waltermann said with a laugh, "because I'm going to be ready."

Masters track and field competition uses a worldwide point system, Waltermann said, "so you can see that what you run as a 55-year-old is the same as what you would do as a 24-year-old."

Waltermann -- a native of Germany -- was also representing his adopted country for the first time in international competition. He has lived in the United States since 1982 and competed in world competitions for Germany in 2003 and 2005, but he became a U.S. citizen a little more than a year ago.

"I went to Charlotte with my wife for the ceremony, and it was much more moving and meaningful than I ever thought possible, because I thought I'd been an American for a very long time, but I was wrong," he said.

Waltermann said he's had a love affair with America since his childhood in Germany. After he arrived, he worked a variety of jobs and learned the language, then toured the countryside by Volkswagen bus and bicycle.

Though he went back to Germany, Waltermann said, his heart was here. In 1996, after living in Chicago and Wisconsin, he moved to Hickory, where he is the president of Heico Fasteners, a German firm that makes parts for the furniture industry.

A former high-level soccer player, he played soccer in Wisconsin. After moving to Hickory, he had to travel to Winston-Salem, where teammates called him "granddad," to play.

Ultimately, he said, he found himself looking around for an athletic outlet and, at age 50, decided to run a marathon.

Someone also suggested he try track and field, and he ran a race at the Southeastern U.S. Masters Track and Field competition in Raleigh.

"I watched other guys throw the javelin and the discus and do the long jump and I said, `I want to do that.' "

That led Waltermann to train for the pentathlon. After mastering that, he decided to move up to the decathlon, qualifying in June to go to Italy at the USA National Masters Decathlon and Heptathlon Championships in Birmingham, Ala.

In a typical week, he trains two to three hours a day.

He says he used to run 70 miles a week but has now cut down to about 30 miles a week.

He also does part of his training at Hickory High, where he practices on the track, shot-put and discus rings. "Everybody there is really, really nice," he said. "The coaches say, `Look at the crazy old guy, he works harder than you do,'" Waltermann added with a laugh.

Waltermann works as well with running coach Jimmy Fuller and with elite throws coach Jeff Gorski of Chapel Hill.

Trim and enthusiastic, Waltermann says he loves to watch out-of-shape people come into the gym and start to train, losing weight and gaining confidence. The idea that athletics can help one maintain lifelong robust health is magical, he said.

"A year ago, a friend who was 79, he said to me, `Waltermann, you watch -- next year I'm going to Italy and I'm going to medal for the U.S.,' and I got to see him do it," Waltermann said.

"So that is what made me fall completely in love with this sport -- these 70-, 80- and 90-year-old people still are vigorous, they have a drive, a sparkle in the eyes, you simply wouldn't believe it."

Catawba Valley People | Chanda Blitch

Stefan Waltermann's request

"When you find a runner out there, please just show him a little respect," Waltermann said. "Wave at him, and we'll wave back because we're so dependent on (motorists) for our safety.

"I make a point to greet everybody," he said. "I smile and wave and try to get their attention so they can say, 'There's that bald guy who always smiles and waves.' "