The ability to sustain excellence at a high level year after year and then push beyond the stereotypical ‘twilight’ of one’s sporting lifespan, is often reserved for the best of the best.
In the world’s elite codes, longevity is exemplified by LeBron James in basketball, arguably the sport’s greatest player, or Tallygaroopna’s Steele Sidebottom and teammate Scott Pendlebury in the AFL, who despite their age are still regarded as some of Collingwood’s most influential players.
But those athletes’ careers will eventually dwindle and fade in their late 30s, early 40s if they're fortunate.
Yet, Shepparton’s Russell Wood surpasses all that and then some.
And then some more after that.
At 84 years of age, the taekwondo grand master is still fighting strong on the mat.
Wood, who founded the Koryo Taekwondo centre in Shepparton, travelled to Korea to participate in the Poomsae Championships.
The martial arts machine, evidently still in his prime, claimed gold.
Koryo Taekwondo’s Sammy Rachele was in awe of Wood’s consistent success in the martial arts scene, but knows decades of dedication to healthy habits have forged Wood’s long-term prosperity in the sport.
“His consistency is incredible, he trains every day, sometimes more than once a day,” Rachele said.
“He’s a man who believes in looking after his body and exercising every day.
“Martial arts has been a part of his life for however many years, he’s opened the taekwondo centre here in Shepparton like 50 years ago.
“The legacy he leaves behind is pretty hard to follow in his footsteps.”
A part of those healthy habits is Woods’ commitment to maintain a diet free of junk food.
Rachele reflected that even when travelling, Woods’ morning smoothies, consumption of fruit and vegetables and avoidance of takeaway remains firmly in place.
“His diet has been a key, he eats only healthy food products,’’ Rachele said.
“If he’s not doing training or recovery, he’s thinking, ‘What else can I do to be healthy?’
“He’s always talking to the young kids, ‘Don’t eat KFC, don’t eat McDonald's’, because that’s what he does himself, and he’s been successful and healthy through that.”
At an age many will fail to even reach, Rachele was unsurprised when it seemed Wood had called it quits on competing internationally again.
But lo and behold, when the call came, Wood stepped up to participate and left the continent of Asia with silverware around his neck.
“He went to Korea last year for his ninth dan grading,” Rachele said.
“He actually declined on going there for his next presentation and the ceremony and said ‘Oh nah, I don’t think I’ll be back there again’.
“But then this year the opportunity came up for him to compete overseas again and he said ‘Yep, I’m going’.
“He won gold in his division and there was at least four or five guys in there too.
“To still get on the mat and do what he can do, it’s pretty amazing.”
There is no end in sight for the taekwondo champion, but with his accolades continuing to grow, there shouldn’t be any reason to tap out just yet.
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