Veteran athlete wins double Masters silver, despite suffering fractured wrist

Veteran athlete Ramsay Sloss returned from the European Masters Indoor Championships in Poland last month with two silver medals and a British record – despite fracturing his wrist.

The 71-year-old from Calderwood won silver in the mens’s 70-75 years 4x200m relay, and in the 4x200m mixed relay in Torun, setting a new British record of 2.17:77.

However, Ramsay was injured in a fall during a semi-final, and ran both relays with his wrist strapped up.

It was only when he went to Hairmyres Hospital in East Kilbride after coming back that he found out the wrist was fractured.

Sloss said: “I’m delighted, it was great.

“I won two silvers, which is more than I expected, and we got a British record in the mixed relay, so that was a bonus.

“The time on the diploma was 2.17:77.

“I’ve had a few medals over the years. The last time I competed at international level was back at 2015 at the same arena in Torun.

“I’ve been away from it for a while, but I’m 71 now and still picking up medals, so it’s a real bonus.

“I know the stadium and the environment, so it’s always good when you’re going back to somewhere you know.

“I had some good memories there before. I think I’ve been to Torun three times now and never failed to come away without a medal, so in that respect, it’s very pleasing.

“But it’s the first time I’ve come back with two medals.

“That’s a haul now of three European golds, four silvers, and a world silver.”

Ramsay has been active for his entire life and played amateur football before injury forced him to hang up his boots and take up running instead.

He said:” I’ve been running at international level since 2003. I started doing that when I was 50, and I’m still picking up medals.

“I didn’t start running until I was in my 30s.