Editor’s Note: Charles Modlin Sr. passed away in August 2010 at the age of 85. Click here to read his obituary and find out much more about his extraordinary life.

Charles Modlin is the fastest 82-year-old in the world. And he has the gold medal to prove it! But winning the 100-meter sprint in the National Senior Game and setting records in the 100, 200, 4000 meter sprints and the long jump just wasn’t enough for Modlin.

He tells Growing Bolder his secret to fitness — he’s 5’11” and 150 pounds, so he knows what he’s talking about.

And, he shares his philosophy about work and explains why it really isn’t work at all.