Karla Del Grande | Canada
Karla Del Grande has competed as a masters sprinter since 2002. She was added to the Ontario Masters Hall of Fame in 2006, and the Canadian Masters Hall of Fame in 2019. She was named WMA Female Sprint Athlete of the Year in 2018 and 2019, runner-up to Overall Female Athlete in 2019, and WMA Female Athlete of the Decade (2010-2019).
Over her career, she has consistently been in the top world rankings in her events (60m, 200m, and 400m indoors, and 100m, 200m, 400m and 300mH outdoors), with multiple Canadian and world records, and medals earned at CMA and WMA events, from W45 to W70. She was the first woman known to run her age in the 400 metres, doing so twice, at age 68 and age 69.
Photo Credit:
Courtesy of Jess Baumung
Community
To give back to her sport, Karla has volunteered at many levels, from coaching young athletes, to officiating at school meets, to serving on the Board of Directors of OMA and CMA. Whether it’s a casual encounter while training on the track, in the pool or weight room, or through podcasts, social media posts, magazine interviews, or through committee work, she encourages others to move and keep fit, for mental and physical health. She describes the fun, fitness, and friendships that she has gained from her own participation in masters athletics as an important contributor to her longevity as an athlete.
