About Donald Pellmann
Lived 1915 – 2020 (aged 105). Donald Pellmann was an American athletics competitor.
Donald Pellmann (August 12, 1915 – October 11, 2020) was an American centenarian multi world-record-setting masters athlete. He held the current M90 world record (for men aged 90 or above) in the long jump, high jump, discus throw, and indoor pole vault. Additionally, he also held the American records in the 100 metres, triple jump, shot put, and javelin throw. He lived in an assisted senior living facility in Santa Clara, California.
Biography Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, he grew up during the Great Depression. He had high jumped in high school, where he claimed he was "not great," but work soon took priority. He was a tool and die maker and remained at work during World War II. In 1970, he retired from his job at a subsidiary of General Electric.
On September 20, 2015, Pellmann set five world records at the San Diego Senior Games. Competing in the 100 and older category, he ran the 100-meter dash in 26.99 seconds, beating the previous age-group world record held by Japan's Hidekichi Miyazaki by 2.84 seconds. Pellmann became the first centenarian to clear an official height in the high jump. Pellmann also set records in the shot put, discus throw and long jump. Later that week, Pellmann was named USATF "Athlete of the Week".
In 2018, his wife Marge died, with whom he had been married for 71 years.
In 2020 he was voted to the USATF Masters Hall of Fame.
Additional List of centenarian masters track and field athletes
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Important facts
People in Donald Pellmann's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Donald Pellmann's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Donald Pellmann?
American masters athlete (1915–2020)
When was Donald Pellmann born?
Donald Pellmann was born on 15 August 1915 in Milwaukee.
When did Donald Pellmann die?
Donald Pellmann died on 11 October 2020 in Santa Clara, California.
What was Donald Pellmann's occupation?
Donald Pellmann was an athletics competitor.
What nationality was Donald Pellmann?
Donald Pellmann was American.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Donald Pellmann. https://biography.guide/donald-pellmann/
MLA: "Donald Pellmann." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/donald-pellmann/.
Chicago: "Donald Pellmann." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/donald-pellmann/.
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