World Masters Games: 101yo runner wins crowd's heart

A 101-year-old Indian athlete says she feels like a hero after picking up her first gold medal at the New Zealand World Masters Games.

Man Kaur won gold, and the heart of the crowd, when she completed the 100m sprint at the 2017 World Masters Games in Auckland on Monday.

Ms Kaur is the only contender in the over 100 age grade and through a translator she told Newshub she feels like she's "Mother India".

She said through all the media attention she feels like a "big hero of the world" and thanked God for giving her energy.

World Masters Games director Dianne McAteer said Ms Kaur is "just everything that World Masters Games epitomises".

"It's a sport for life, it's being active, it's about not letting age be a barrier to being active so she's amazing."

Ms Kaur completed the 100 metres in one minute and 14 seconds.

She's still got three more events: The 200 metre sprints, javelin throw and shotput later this week.

Newshub.