Fitness Buff at 99

This gym regular tends to stand out. For one thing, he's pushing 99. For another, he's a living world history book. Antole Sokolsky visits his gym practically every day, pushing himself through exercises on a dozen weight training machines. He's almost 99 years old, and has a unique workout garb: a collared shirt, walking shorts and fisherman's sandals.

His doctor told him there was no cure for the arthritis in his knees, "only that I can diminish the pain," Sokolsky said. "That is why I decided to go for exercise." He maintains a positive outlook on life despite some harrowing life experiences.

He's gone through the whole history of the 20th century. Solkolsky was born in Lithuania on Nov. 11, 1903. He would live to witness World War I, the Russian Revolution and World War II. He went from the privileged life of a colonel's son in the Russian army to starving as a refugee from communism. He eventually ended up in the U.S. in 1952 where he had to start all over again at the age of 49. His last job was as a professor of Russian language and literature at the University of South Florida. He retired in 1972.

The telltale signs of advanced age creep into Sokosky's body language as he moves among the machines at the gym. A silver cane assists with balance and provides reassurance to his failing eyesight. On the Nautilus leg extension machine, he works his thighs with 20 pounds of weight. As the repetitions near 20, he's had enough. But after a short rest, he slides down from the seat and meanders to the next machine.

When I was young," Sokolsky said, "I already read about the usefulness of exercise, you know, and also about the diet. I consider that the health of the human being is related to his movement and food." Except for arthiritis, macular degeneration and some difficulty hearing, Sokolsky has no health problems and takes no medication, said his son Pierre. "He has always been very attentive about his health. Most particularly, I remember as a teen, I used to get really embarrassed because he would be doing jumping jacks on the beach."

*Reprinted by permission of St Petersburg Times. Copy written 2002. All right reserved.