THE proud holder of two World Champion titles, Don Mathewson is a 65-year-old who keeps improving with age.

The Hills Athletics Club member has recently returned from the World Masters Athletics Championships in Finland where he received two gold medals one for the team event in the eight kilometre cross country (the Australians beat Russia by three minutes and 45 seconds) and one for his specialty, the 1500m event.

``I'd won the heat easily and had a good feeling about the race,'' Mathewson said.

``In the final 100 metres I was coming into the turn and was running into the footsteps of the Norwegian.

``I was feeling strong and before I knew it I was past him, beating him by 0.6 seconds, or about four footsteps.

``It was the most exhilarating, exciting feeling.''

He also received a bronze medal for the 800m and came fourth in the 5000m.

His time of 4.59 seconds in the 1500m event set a NSW record, but was three seconds slower than his personal best time at the NSW Masters Championships in March.

For Mathewson, it's so far been a year in which he has recorded the fastest speeds of his life.

He is even quicker than his training partners two 15-year-old girls who are NSW representatives.

Mathewson joined the Hills Athletics Club in 2000 and went to the Australian Masters Athletics Championships in 2007, where he came second in the 5000m and 1500m and third in the 800m and 8km.

In 2008 he came first in the 1500m.

``I knew if I really worked hard and put in a lot more discipline and effort, I could do well at the World Championships,'' he said.

With the support of his wife and coach, Mathewson began running at least six days a week, including ``intensive speed work'' on the club track on Monday and Wednesday nights.

``Every year I say this will be my last year but I've been saying that for 10 years,'' Mathewson said.

He has avoided injury and said runners of all ages can enjoy the health and social benefits of running. Mathewson is preparing for the World Masters Games in October, where he hopes to do a personal best time in the 1500m.