Goodbye, ‘Turbo Grandpa' – you ran so we'd all believe

Free Malaysia Today

2 days ago

L Pushpanathan powers to 400m gold in the 90–94 age group at the 2019 Malaysian Open Masters in Kuala Lumpur. (L Pushpanathan pic)
IPOH : Pushpanathan Letchmanan, Malaysia's 'Turbo Grandpa' and oldest competitive sprinter, has died at 95.
He leaves a trail of unforgettable races that lit up the track and our hearts.
In race after race, year after year, he defied age, inspired generations, and reminded us that growing older doesn't mean slowing down.
He died on Wednesday night at Ipoh General Hospital, a day after a fall at home.
It was a life lived in full stride, a masterclass in defying age, inspiring others, and showing that movement is as much about spirit as it is about the body.
Pushpanathan wasn't just Malaysia's fastest nonagenarian.
He was a symbol of what it means to live fully, without surrendering to the limits that age or society tries to set.
'Running stays till my last breath,' he once said. And he meant it.
Even in his 90s, he was still outrunning younger competitors.
Cheered on by the crowd, Turbo Grandpa L Pushpanathan ran with joy in his heart and fire in his feet. (Vickram Ragunath pic)
At 93, he clocked 32.4 seconds in the 100m, finishing fourth in a category for men aged 75 and above, the only runner over 90, and by far the most captivating.
In 2023, he grabbed gold in the 100m in 28.74s ahead of India's Kirpal Singh (45.78s) in 90-94 age group at the Malaysian International Open Masters Athletics Championships in Kuala Lumpur.
In the same meeting, he ran the 200m in 88.8s for his second top finish.
The joy was in the run
Snapshots of a nonagenarian who kept the nation's flag flying high: L Pushpanathan holding the Jalur Gemilang on the podium after a triumphant 100m run in the 2022 Malaysia Masters Open (left), and with India's Kirpal Singh (right) following his 100m win at the 2023 Malaysian International Open Masters Athletics Championships. (Vickram Ragunath pic)
A retired English teacher from SM Raja Chulan in Ipoh, Pushpanathan took up competitive masters athletics late in life, debuting at the Malaysian Open Masters in 2018.
He won silver in the 400m at his first outing, and continued to rack up medals and admiration in the years that followed.
Representing Perak Masters, he wasn't chasing trophies, he was chasing purpose.
With his trademark swing of the arms and twinkle in his stride, he made it clear: he wasn't just running. He was showing us how to live.
'In a world that idolises youth, Pushpanathan flipped the script,' said V Pulainthiran, honorary president of Asia Masters Athletics.
'He wasn't just a sprinter. He was proof that life doesn't end after retirement, and a reminder to the young that you can always begin again.'
Pulainthiran, also the patron of the Malaysian Masters Athletics Association, added: 'The track was his mirror – it reflected his will, not his wrinkles. That's the image we should carry forward.'
Legacy in every lane
Crossing the line with youthful might, L Pushpanathan set the tone for a lifetime of relentless running. (L Pushpanathan pic)
Pushpanathan's contributions to Malaysian athletics stretched far beyond his own races.
He co-founded Swifts Athletics Club in Ipoh with Suppiah Ramalingam, helping shape the careers of athletes like track queen M Rajamani, Malaysia's first Sportswoman of the Year.
He also served for over six decades as a technical officer at national and international meets, including the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur.
Even when the spotlight dimmed, he kept showing up, driven by love for the sport and the belief that movement is life.
At home, he inspired his family. His wife Mangleswary, daughter Shanthi Devi, and two grandchildren, Shalini and Vickram were his biggest fans.
'To him, age was never a burden,' said Vickram. 'It was just another lane on the track, and he ran through it with pride.'
A model for active life
Proof that age never dulled his drive: L Pushpanathan in the thick of training for the Malaysian Masters in 2022. (Ragunath Veeriah pic)
Today, about 7% of Malaysians — roughly 2.3 million people — are aged 65 and above. By 2050, older adults are expected to outnumber those under 15 for the first time in our history.
With men living on average to 73 and women to 78, the notion of healthy ageing is becoming more urgent, and more relevant.
Pushpanathan's active life until 95 offers not just hope, but a model.
His habits were simple: a daily 2km run, alternate-day yoga, light strength training, and a diet rooted in moderation.
His mental sharpness and sense of purpose helped sustain a vitality that few achieve.
As Malaysia's demographics shift, his story reminds us that seniors can be more than dependents, They can be mentors, leaders, even competitors.
Remembering the man who wouldn't stop
Pushpanathan's legacy isn't just in the races he ran, it's in the mindsets he changed.
He deserves to be remembered in classrooms, in public health campaigns, and in the way we think about ageing.
Each time someone says, 'I'm too old for this,' may his memory offer a gentle nudge forward.
In the global community of veteran runners, he now stands alongside icons like Japan's Hidekichi Miyazaki and India's Fauja Singh. Pushpanathan joins their ranks not just by age, but by attitude.
And what does his life teach us?
That consistency matters more than intensity. That joy is its own quiet rebellion.
That sometimes, the most powerful thing you can do is simply not stop.
The last rites will be held from 11am to 12.30pm today at Six Pearls Funeral Parlour, Jalan Madras, Ipoh, followed by cremation at Buntong Crematorium.