Some sports fans may wonder if thirty-something soccer players Alan Shearer and Roy Keane are still up to the game at their age, but nonegenarian Gerry Smyth has no such doubts about his sporting abilities.
The 96-year-old Summerhill, Co Meath, resident is the oldest competitor in the European Senior Games, which open in Belgium tomorrow.
The retired teacher has been training for the walking event for some time and is a familiar sight power-walking around Trim. "I walked five miles one day last week," he said. "I have to limber up and get the wheels moving."
He is hopeful of victory in the games. "I'm going for gold, but I will settle for silver," he says modestly.
Mr Smyth is one of 30 members of the Summerhill Active Retirement Group which is representing Ireland in Ghent this week.
"I'd do anything for a bit of fun. I'm going to take part in the walking, and maybe a bit of dancing, if I'm able for it. And of course the sing-song every night. That will be the highlight for me."
He retired from teaching 30 years ago and has been keeping well since, apart from a stroke last year. "I'm able to get around and enjoy life. If you go into a corner, then you will be left there to gather dust," he said.
The Senior Games' organisers were surprised when Ms Mary Nally, of the Third Age Centre, told them about Mr Smyth's entry. While there are a number of age categories, there is not an "over-90" category. "When I told them about Gerry, they didn't believe me at first," she says. "They have nobody over 90 years."
Other team members are taking part in events such as the 6 km run, basketball, badminton, tennis, swimming and bowling. Trained fitness instructor and kickboxer, Mr John Nally, is their coach.
One of the highlights of the trip will be the team's performance in the closing ceremony on Friday. They will perform a song-and-dance routine, including the Clare Set, before a crowd of 4,000.
Ms Nally says some members of the team may not be very mobile, but they all have the right attitude.
"What has age got to do with it? It's all in the attitude. If you have a very positive attitude, then you can take on the world," she says.
"You can be old at 40, or young at 80. We are all very excited about this trip and we're proud to be representing Ireland."
