When Lola Carrero, a 94-year-old Spanish-born Israeli, took off her running shoes, few people realized that she was making history. After all, she had already made a name for herself as one of the first women to flee the Israeli army as a young woman in the 1940s. But when Carrero laced up her shoes and began to run again in 2015, it marked a special moment in her life, and in Israeli history.
At the age of thirteen, Carrero was forced to flee the Israeli army with her family. It was a time of transformation for the region, and Carrero’s family was not allowed to stay in the country that was becoming Israel. It was a traumatic experience, Carrero has said. We all had to leave our home and escape.
Now, more than 70 years later, Carrero is running again, inspiring a new generation of women to be strong. After she took her shoes, Carrero participated in a series of 5K and 10K races, including the Jerusalem Marathon. I’m so happy to be running in these races, she has said. I’m doing this for my country, and for the younger women of Israel. I want to be an example of courage and strength.
Carrero’s story is a reminder that age is just a number, and that it’s never too late to challenge yourself and pursue your dreams. With the support of her family and the incredible Israeli sport community, Carrero is showing the world that it’s possible to follow your passions at any age.
In 2017, Carrero was awarded the Israeli Ministry of Sport and Culture’s Sport Inspiration Award. The award fittingly recognizes inspirational sports figures and their outstanding achievements in the world of sports, of which Carrero is certainly an excellent example. With such an incredible journey under her belt, it’s no wonder why Carrero has become an inspiration in her own right.
