UK Athletes finish 2nd in World Masters event in Florida

Against all odds, the British Masters Athletics Team GB clinched second place overall at the World Masters Championships in Gainesville, Florida. Over 180 British athletes competed, showing the world that age is no barrier to excellence and resilience. The championships brought together seasoned competitors from across the globe and despite delayed travel, extreme conditions, and jet lag, Team GB delivered outstanding performances.

The UK team included Karl Hick, CEO of Phoenix Sustainable Investments, competing in the 65+ category, who ran in three events: the 8K cross-country, the 10K road race, where he helped secure a silver medal for Team GB – and the 3K indoor race. A proud moment for the team and a shining example of the tenacity that defines British sport.

In 2023, two leading surgeons told Karl his knee was beyond repair. “You’ll never run again,” they warned.

Not one to give in, Karl sought another opinion and found a surgeon who believed not only that his knee could be fixed, but that he could run again. Thanks to Dr Nassr of Northampton, who took a chance when others wouldn’t, a pioneering knee surgery made the impossible possible. Just months after the operation and after years of frustration, Karl was not only walking, he was running at world championship level.

Surgeons and specialists around the world have been stunned by the recovery. It’s a true testament to smart innovation in medicine, and to Karl’s unshakeable belief, persistence, and positive mental attitude.

Getting to Florida wasn’t simple either. With Heathrow Airport closed and chaos across UK travel networks, many athletes didn’t make it. But resilience once again kicked in. Karl rerouted via London City, flew to Amsterdam, then to Atlanta, and finally drove 400 miles to Gainesville – arriving just hours before his first race.

And if that wasn’t wild enough... there were crocodiles on the cross-country course! Several runners in the women’s race spotted the reptiles near the water’s edge. While the men didn’t see them directly, the threat was very real. Just imagine, dodging crocodiles while competing for your country – certainly makes you run faster!

This story isn’t just about athletics, it’s about attitude. It’s about refusing to give up, even when you’re told it’s over. It’s about doing whatever it takes to get there. And it’s about how adversity, whether it’s surgery, travel chaos, or wildlife – can lead to triumph.