When we last caught up with Morland Smith, the 88-year-old runner was getting ready for the World Masters Athletics Championships in Daegu, South Korea, hoping for “a couple of medals”.
He came home with three.
The championships ran from 22 August to 3 September 2026 across three stadiums. Over the two weeks, Morland competed in six events. He won silver in the M85 steeplechase, finishing behind a competitor from Canada, and silver in the M85 6km cross country, behind a competitor from Mexico. He also finished fourth in both the 800m and the 1500m.
His gold came on the most dramatic day of his championships. With 500m to go in the 5000m, Morland collapsed and was taken to hospital. There he was treated for dehydration with fluids through an IV drip. By that afternoon, he had been cleared and was back at the track, letting nothing stand in his way. He moved down an age group so the Australian M80 4x100m relay team had enough runners, and that team won gold.
Australia finished second on the medal table, behind the USA, with 58 gold, 66 silver and 48 bronze medals.
Professor Chandra Balaratnasingam and Morland Smith outside the Nedlands clinic
Morland has been a patient at the Lions Eye Institute for over 30 years. He lives with dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD), which affects central vision, and runs using his peripheral sight and, when necessary, a carer who assists him. After returning home, he visited the clinic to collect a copy of the Spring edition of Vision News, which features him on the cover. He brought his medals along and posed for photos with the magazine and Professor Chandra Balaratnasingam.
Morland isn’t slowing down. In January 2027, he hopes to travel to Christchurch, New Zealand, for the Oceania Masters Athletics Championships. We look forward to updating you on his next win!
