At 80 years young, Karel “The Legend” Dolak is set to head off to the UCI World Championships to represent South Africa! If you ever needed a sign to take up something new no matter where you’re at in life, Karel’s story might just be exactly what you need to read today…
Gauteng, South Africa (16 July 2024) — If you needed someone to inspire you to try something new no matter your age, Karel Dolak, also known as “The Legend”, might just have you hopping on the bike you never ride or taking a leap of faith on something you’ve always wanted to do but always make excuses for.
At 80 years young, Karel is gearing up for something remarkable thanks to an opportunity to represent South Africa at the UCI World Championships in Aalborg, Denmark, where he and his bike will certainly make SA proud.
But what makes Karel’s champion moment in the making quite so inspiring isn’t just the fact that he’s ‘still got it’; it’s that he only started cycling at the tender age of 66 years old—a time when many hang up their boxing gloves guided by the myth that taking up something new is for those just starting out their lives.
As Karen Furstenberg who has known Karel for several years tells Good Things Guy:
“Karel only started cycling when he was 66, after an injury sustained from playing soccer and he was told he could no longer continue with soccer.” It wasn’t long until The Legend earned his nickname in the world of cycling.
“He is very well known in the cycling circles around the Cradle, always smiling, always friendly, always positive, always keen for a chat on and off the bike and always there to help anyone in need,” Karen adds.
Despite the ebbs and flows of life on and off the road (including getting knocked down by a car and breaking his femur), Karel has proven his resilience time and time again—always getting back on the saddle.
Last year was a particularly sparkling one for Karel after he earned 1st place in his age category for the long trek down to Durban ending with the Amashova despite awful rain and wind conditions.
He then went on to register for The Gauteng Road Champs after insistence from his son Karel Jnr (who is also cyclist) and went on to become the champion for his age category followed by another fantastic achievement.
“He won the Gauteng Champs quite convincingly and went on to win the National Championships too. There was a lot of head scratching from the other contenders—here is a man, no knowledge of racing, no fancy nutrition, old heavy bike, no coach and he arrives out of the blue to win the SA National Road Champs in his age category,” beams Karen.
“I asked him afterwards what he believes his ‘magic’ is and he just says “I love cycling.”
Isn’t that something?
Beyond his cycling chops, Karel has touched many people as a source of great inspiration for all age groups.
Because of his beloved presence in the cycling community, it came as no surprise that when he was selected to compete in the World Champs, many people came together to pay his way there in full including a local radio station!
We’ll be rooting for Karel loud and proud come the UCI World Championships on the 28 August to 1 September, and invite the rest of South Africa to do the same.
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