Karl Weingartner, an elite octogenarian volleyball player, speaks with Our Ventura TV host, Gary Butterworth.
Introduction to an Octogenarian Athlete
Karl Weingartner is a highly competitive senior athlete who plays volleyball in his 80s. While many people his age switch to low-impact sports like pickleball or bocce ball, Karl continues to play national and international volleyball tournaments. He estimates he has won around 40 gold medals throughout his senior career, practicing both locally at the Simi Rec Center and traveling to places like Santa Monica and Canada for games.
Evolution of the Game and the Libero Position
Karl plays as a “libero,” a defensive specialist position introduced in 2001 that has no height requirement. His primary duties include passing and defense from the back row. He notes that the sport changed significantly in 2001 when it transitioned from traditional side-out scoring to rally scoring (where a point is scored on every serve up to 25 points). This modification was made to standardize match lengths for television, preventing games from stretching late into the night.
Playing Surfaces
While Karl plays on multiple surfaces including sand, indoor hardcourts, and grass, he admits that playing on the beach becomes increasingly difficult with age due to the heavy resistance of the sand. He feels most comfortable playing indoors or on grass, though he notes that diving on sand is much softer and safer for preventing injuries.
Health, Fitness, and Nutrition Routine
To stay in top shape for competitive volleyball, Karl follows a disciplined lifestyle:
- Dietary Choices: He stopped eating red meat (beef and pork) four decades ago.
- Nutrition: He drinks green smoothies packed with nutrient-dense powders like spirulina and wheatgrass.
- Intermittent Fasting: He consumes all of his daily meals within a strict six-to-seven-hour window to give his body time to rest.
- Gym Workouts: He trains five to six times a week with a personal trainer, focusing heavily on core strength and agility rather than heavy weightlifting.
A Shift in Perspective On and Off the Court
Having been with his current team for over two decades, Karl views his teammates as family. He reflects that his approach to adversity and competition has shifted with age. While he used to focus purely on the burning desire to win, his current motivation centers on camaraderie and a pure love for the sport. For Karl, winning gold is wonderful, but staying in peak physical shape to enjoy the game with his friends is what truly matters.
TV broadcast week beginning 07/05/26
Producer: George Alger
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