Hy Pinsky champion in our midst
By Lynda Peeler

A man's stature has nothing to do with physical height. This giant of stature,
Hy Pinsky, was born in Atlantic City and attended Atlantic City Junior and High Schools. Always very athletic he wanted to compete in sports but he was only 5 feet tall and weighed 65 pounds, not doing his growth spurt until his senior year when he grew six inches and gained weight. He tried running and did the one mile, but began late in high school so didn't have time to develop the skill. He did win the Fly Weight Championship in wrestling. He worked at body building for three years until World War II arrived and Hy spent 3 ½ years in the Navy stationed in Hawaii where he served on Carrier Patrol as an airplane mechanic.

Post war he married, had children, and living on Long Island, he competed in tennis, racket ball, and paddleball. His profession as a furrier ended with retirement in 1970 when he came to Florida and settled in Sunny Isles Beach. Flamingo Park became his playground. Here he played racquet ball everyday and ran the track to keep in shape. He met a lifeguard who suggested he get into competitive racing - won his first race receiving a gold medal. He entered his first marathon at 62 and ended in the top 5 in his age group.

At 70 his focus changed from running to biking. He had friends who were seasoned riders, and with Hy's competitive spirit it took only six months to beat them in racing. He competed and medaled in races all over Florida for ten years. When he won the state Championship Channel 7 did a profile on him. As his own personal trainer he is self motivated and enjoys the camaraderie. He competed in the Nationals in Baton Rouge, San Antonio, and, at 83 years of age, broke the national record in his age grouping at the Senior Olympics in Hampton Roads, VA; another Gold Medal. He went on to win four gold medals for the 20K race in The Villages in Florida.

"I don't consider myself old. We all have to get older but we don't have to get old", said Pinsky. Rabbi Konovich, of Turnberry Temple Beth El, said "He is up at the crack of dawn and rides 20 miles. He is an inspiration to everybody his age."
 

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