Dudley Park’s 78-year-old javelin master Stan Selby has no plans to slow down any time soon

At 78 years old, Dudley Park’s Stan Selby holds five State javelin titles and regularly hits the track for competitions.

And he has no plans to slow down.

After nearly four decades in the sport, Selby still has what it takes. He won gold in the javelin event for his age group at the Masters Athletics Western Australia State Championships on March 16.

This is his latest of many achievements after also competing in three World Championships, most recently finishing fourth in his age group for javelin.

Selby holds the current MAWA men’s individual records for javelin in five age groups — for the 55, 60, 65, 70 and 75-year-old categories and remains humble about his stellar record.

“Some poor bugger hasn’t come along and been able to beat me yet,” he said.

Selby has been throwing a javelin for 38 years, first getting into the sport when he was working as a karate instructor and a friend in athletics suggested he should try the sport.

Finding he had a natural ability, Selby never looked back and fit the sport around his working life. He uprooted from Victoria to Esperance and eventually settled in Mandurah 13 years ago.

Selby said his competitive drive is what keeps him training and throwing in competitions.

“It is a self-determination,” he said.

“My training takes in five days a week, for probably 10 months of the year.

“It’s keeping me fit, and also mentally reasonable — which is good.

“So I’ll keep trying and I’ll train as long as I possibly can. The day I can’t run will be a shocker. I love to be able to go out into the park and run.”

He trains at Bortolo Park and on the cricket run-up on Dudley Park Primary School’s grounds, and also runs about 4km three times a week.

Selby said he will continue in javelin for as long as he can, and hopes he will inspire younger generations to take up athletics.

“Even if they only spend a little bit of time doing athletics, it’s a great start,” he said.

“You don’t have to win — if you can, that’s good.

“But you get to have that friendship and relationship with all those other people.”