About Masters Athletics in South Africa Athletics in South Africa was previously known as Veterans Athletics for men and women of 30 plus and has existed in South Africa since 1974 when the then S.A. Masters Athletic Association was founded by Danie Burger, ex-Springbok pole-vaulter, hurdler and decathlete, after a sojourn in the U.S.A. He was a physiotherapist / chiropractor who had studied and worked in the United States in the early 70's. At this time David Pain, an American Lawyer, organised a mile race for men of 40 plus, called masters. This concept caught on and in 1975 the first championships for veterans (or masters) took place in Toronto, Canada. South Africa was represented by 14 or 15 athletes and included well-known Springboks such as Burger himself, Fanie du Plessis (discus thrower), Anne McKenzie (800m, 1500m) and Willie Olivier (800m, 1500m, steeplechase) and Monty Hacker (100 & 200), previously secretary-general, vice-president and acting President of World...
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