News

After-5 discus hurler going to World Senior Games

Jim Brewer

By Lightning Reports, Published: September 3, 2019

Ever wondered who’s that buff-looking guy hurling discus on the Hendersonville High School football field many evenings after 5? It’s Jim Brewer, world-class senior athlete.

Brewer, 56, finished third to win a bronze medal in June in the National Senior Games in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He threw 125 feet and that was after he had torn a muscle in his lower back. He’s back out there most days, training for the World Masters Athletics Championship in Toronto next July. A couple weeks before that he plans to compete in the USA Track & Field Masters Outdoor Championship in Greensboro.
“I picked this up I guess about three years ago,” he said. He competes in the discus and shot put but is concentrating on the discus for the Toronto meet. He didn’t throw in high school or college, so how did he learn technique and training to compete on a high level?
“YouTube and reading and everything,” he said. “There’s lots of training videos on line but they’re usually for young guys, not for us masters.” He also trains indoors at the YMCA. His day job is with Pardee Hospital Foundation.
He’s looked up other master throwers that he expects will compete in the world games.
“I’m competitive but I’m going to have to increase my distance if I want to medal,” he said.