By Rosemary Ugiomoh
Athletes aged 35 up are counting down to the 2026 Ibero American Championships of Masters Athletics, a meet that puts experience, grit, and love for the sport center stage.
The championships will bring together track and field veterans from Spain, Portugal, and across Latin America. From 100m sprinters to javelin throwers, marathoners to high jumpers, the event celebrates that athletics isn’t just for the young. Age groups will run in 5-year brackets, so a 60-year-old can line up against peers, not 25-year-olds.
Organizers say the goal goes beyond medals. It’s about showing that fitness and competition have no expiry date. Many competitors are former Olympians, coaches, teachers, and doctors who still clock personal bests. Others only started running in their 40s or 50s after retirement.
Past editions have produced world records in masters categories. That’s expected again in 2026 as the host city readies a world-class track and crowd support that masters athletes rarely get. For many, hearing the national anthem at this level is a first, even after decades in the sport.
Beyond the competition, the meet doubles as a reunion. Athletes who raced each other 30 years ago often reconnect here. There are workshops on injury prevention, nutrition for aging athletes, and mentorship sessions where masters runners advise youth teams.
The 2026 edition arrives as masters athletics keeps growing worldwide. More people are staying active longer, and this championship gives them a global stage to prove it.
Final dates and the host city will be confirmed by the Ibero American Masters Athletics Confederation later this year. But one thing’s clear: in 2026, the track belongs to the veterans, and the message is simple — the race isn’t over until you say it is.
