Bert Bergen, Kathy Bergen’s husband, shares her passion for athletics and pursues his own gold medals.
Kathy Bergen stands as one of the most remarkable athletes in Masters track and field history.
Born on December 24, 1939, Bergen transformed from a late-blooming competitor into a world record-breaking phenomenon who defies age barriers in athletics.
She currently holds the world record in the W70 100 meters and high jump, along with multiple indoor world records across different age groups.
Bergen also maintains American records in various events, including being the oldest woman to break the 15-second barrier in the 100 meters and 32 seconds in the 200 meters.
Bergen’s athletic journey began at the extraordinary age of 54, making her story even more inspiring.
Her previous athletic experience included just two years of high school basketball and competitive tennis at a 4.0 level.
She broke her first world record by 1996 and has since accumulated an astounding 28 world records and 42 American records throughout her career.
The USATF Masters Committee recognized her excellence by naming her the 2015 co-winner of the Female Masters Athlete of the Year Award and later the 2021 Masters Athlete of the Year.
Bergen earned induction into the USATF Masters Hall of Fame in 2008, cementing her legacy as a track and field legend who proves that athletic greatness knows no age limits.
Kathy Bergen’s Husband Shares Her Passion for Sports
Behind Kathy Bergen’s extraordinary success stands her husband Bert Bergen, who serves not only as her life partner but as her perfect athletic companion and motivator.
Bert plays a crucial role in Kathy’s athletic journey, competing alongside her in Masters track and field events while providing unwavering support for her record-breaking pursuits.
Their relationship exemplifies how shared passions strengthen marriages and create lasting bonds.
Bert Bergen competes in field events himself, particularly excelling in the long jump and triple jump, where he has collected his own collection of gold medals.
Bert jumps using the traditional “straddle” position in high jump, a technique that has become increasingly rare in modern competition.
His own athletic background includes high school high jumping experience, which provided the foundation for his later Master’s competition success.
The Bergens’ athletic partnership began in 1994 when they were 54 and 56 years old, respectively.
Bert discovered an article about the Pasadena Senior Games in AARP magazine and suggested they give track and field competition a try.
His casual suggestion, “Why don’t we give it a try? Anybody can run,” launched both of their remarkable athletic careers.
That first meeting at Occidental College sparked a passion that would define the next three decades of their lives together.
Bert demonstrates remarkable dedication to supporting Kathy’s athletic ambitions while pursuing his own competitive goals.
During the pandemic-disrupted 2020 season, Bert took responsibility for finding competition opportunities when most meets were cancelled.
He researched and located two crucial meets in Texas that allowed Kathy to set five world records during her debut year in the 80-84 age group.
His persistence ensured that Kathy didn’t miss the valuable window of being the youngest competitor in her new age division.
The couple trains together year-round, understanding the demanding schedule required for elite-level Masters competition.
Bert appreciates the time and effort necessary for their athletic pursuits, making him an ideal partner for Kathy’s intense training regimen.
They work out throughout the year rather than just preparing for specific meets, demonstrating their serious commitment to the sport.
This shared understanding of athletic dedication strengthens their relationship and eliminates potential conflicts about time allocation for training.
Bert and Kathy extend their athletic involvement beyond personal competition by volunteering as high jump coaches at St. Francis High School, where their two youngest sons, Steve and Scott, attended.
They discovered this coaching opportunity by chance when they visited to watch track meets and were asked to help officiate and later coach.
Their combined decades of high jump experience make them valuable mentors for young athletes, and they have been working with the high school program for eight or nine years.
The Bergens’ marriage thrives on their shared competitive spirit and mutual support.
Bert understands Kathy’s fierce desire to win every event she enters and supports her goal of breaking world records in each new age group.
They travel together to competitions across the country and internationally, sharing victories and supporting each other through challenges.
Their athletic partnership extends beyond competition to include volunteer work at prestigious events like the Arcadia Invitational, where they officiated high jump events for decades.
This involvement in the broader track and field community showcases their commitment to giving back to the sport that has given them so much fulfillment.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Kathy grew up in Brooklyn, New York, where she played street games like hide and seek and tag, and could beat all the boys in sprints during her grammar school years, which often led to “tomboy” taunts.
- She attended an all-girls high school where she played intramural volleyball and basketball, then went to Marymount Manhattan College in New York City, where she studied Economics and which had no sports programs whatsoever.
- Her father, Jim McCaffrey, was a competitive athlete himself who played on the company softball team for Bendix Corporation well into his 60s, competing against men 20-30 years younger, while her mother, Marian, fostered her love of track by taking her to major meets in New York like the Millrose Games at Madison Square Garden.
