Who is Elias, the 80-year-old Toulouse native who is obsessed with sports
Dry and muscular, Elias Elie Beniflah does not joke around when it comes to the discipline of the body.
Married for 58 years and grandfather, the octogenarian invites the public on Sunday to attend the Stuxiano stadium (112 avenue de Lespinet) to see his training for his future sporting events. “I play a sport every day,” says the native of Spanish Morocco, “including snowboarding, wakeboarding is not really recommended for my age. But if you prepare for seriously, by being careful, you can do anything even at 80!”
Elias enjoys all sports, which he plays alternatetly. “I’ve been around for about 10 years now as a ‘big senior’ in sports,” says Elias, who has done marathons, cycling, triathlons, golf, water skiing, swimming, etc.
“As a teenager living in Barcelona, I remember my first race. Enthralled, it really made me want to continue. Sports made me feel good about others.
“I have few friends my age in sports. I therefore bond with “young people” aged 40 to 60 and it is very stimulating.”
This, of course, requires rigorous health standards: “Don’t assume I’m an ascetic,” he joked. “I eat healthily, drink little alcohol, but I don’t mind tasting a quality alcohol or a nice glass of wine and smoke one or two cigarettes occasionally. I eat a lot of vegetables, little meat, sugar and cheese and bask in the sun for vitamin D. I live well without depriving myself.”
All sports events are good for Elias “even when in traffic, I always keep my athletic clothes close to me, park my car where I can and go for a jog”. At 80, according to him, good health is not inevitable. Not against giving a little advice, the octogenarian also confides his tricks of living well on his blog: “To age well, you have to continue to learn, have projects and not regret anything about your past”.
To complete his busy schedule, Elias is also a recognized painter and organizes guided tours of Toulouse with the Greeters.
Silvana Grasso