At 95, Hes the Worlds Oldest Speedskater. Hes Gunning for 100.

When Iichi Marumo competed in his first international race seven years ago in Moscow, the Japanese speedskater moved down the ice at about the pace of a brisk jog.It took him three times longer to cross the finish line than most of the other skaters that day.It didn’t matter, because Mr.

Marumo was also three times older.He was 88, and his time was still fast enough to earn him a silver medal in his age category of 85 and up.Ever since, he has won only gold.

Now 95, in his most recent race, a national competition in Japan in January, he competed in a category that was created just for him: 95 and over.So far, he has the category all to himself.“I win a gold medal every time I appear,” Mr.Marumo said in an interview at his home in Chino, a small city in the rugged mountains of central Honshu, Japan’s main island.

As proof, he pulled out a plastic shopping bag filled with more than 20 gold medals, including from races in Holland and Canada.A small man with slightly bowed legs and an impish smile, Mr.Marumo has been skating his whole life, but he began his competitive career at an age when most people would feel lucky to still be alive.

On his wall, plaques from Guinness proclaim him to be the world’s oldest male competitive speedskater.His closest rival is a Norwegian skater who is five years younger.

(The oldest currently active female competitor is an 80-year-old Dutch skater.)We are having trouble retrieving the article content.Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.Thank you for your patience while we verify access.If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times.Thank you for your patience while we verify access.Already a subscriber? Log in.Want all of The Times? Subscribe....