The guy in the picture to the right is Simeon Williamson, a British runner who is England's best chance of winning an Olympic sprint medal next month in Beijing. If there was any question of where Williamson gets his speed, this article provides the answer: He gets it from his grandmother, 78-year-old Pearline Williamson, who had her purse stolen by a young woman recently, only to run her down and get the purse back. Pearline explains:
"The thief must have thought I was an easy touch because I'm elderly. ...I think Pearline just earned her grandson a lot of older fans.
"When she took my purse I had to do something so I ran after her and grabbed her as hard as I could.
"She said she hadn't taken it at first, so I shook the life out of her until she finally gave it back. ...
"It makes me so mad when people try to take your things," she said. "Back in my day you had to work so hard for every penny."
Hat tip: Steady Burn.
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People wait overnight in line for the last chance to buy tickets for the 2008 Beijing Olympics games in Beijing, China, Thursday, July 24, 2008. The last tranche of Beijing Olympic Games tickets, some 250,000 in total, will go on sale Friday, two weeks before the games begin on Aug. 8. (AP Photo/Alexander F. Yuan)
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Men are seen while waiting overnight in line for the last chance to buy tickets for the 2008 Beijing Olympics games in Beijing, China, Thursday, July 24, 2008. The last tranche of Beijing Olympic Games tickets, some 250,000 in total, will go on sale Friday, two weeks before the games begin on Aug. 8. (AP Photo/Alexander F. Yuan)
AP
People are seen while waiting overnight in line for the last chance to buy tickets for the 2008 Beijing Olympics games in Beijing, China, Thursday, July 24, 2008. The last tranche of Beijing Olympic Games tickets, some 250,000 in total, will go on sale Friday, two weeks before the games begin on Aug. 8. (AP Photo/Alexander F. Yuan)
AP
Security guards stand watch outside the Olympic tickets office, as hundreds of people wait in line to buy Olympic tickets, at night in Beijing July 24, 2008. The last batch of tickets for next month's Olympic Games will be put on sale from Friday at ticket booths located in the various Olympic venues, organizers said on Tuesday, according to Xinhua News Agency. REUTERS/Jason Lee (CHINA) (BEIJING OLYMPICS 2008 PREVIEW)
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HONG KONG, CHINA - JULY 24: (CHINA OUT) Visitors view a Fuwa, mascot of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, inside a replica of the National Aquatics Center, dubbed the "Water Cube" at Tsim Sha Tsui on July 24, 2008 in Hong Kong, China. Hong Kong will host the Beijing 2008 Olympic Equestrian events. (Photo by Lo Ka Fai/China Photos/Getty Images)
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Xu Yongheng, who is first in line, speaks to a journalist as hundreds of people wait in line to buy Olympic tickets, at night in Beijing July 24, 2008. Xu said he would have waited for about 45 hours by the time the booths are opened at 9am Friday. The last batch of tickets for next month's Olympic Games will be put on sale from Friday at ticket booths located in the various Olympic venues, organizers said on Tuesday, according to Xinhua News Agency. REUTERS/Jason Lee (CHINA) (BEIJING OLYMPICS 2008 PREVIEW)
Reuters
Security guards stand watch as hundreds of people wait in line to buy Olympic tickets, at night in Beijing July 24, 2008. The last batch of tickets for next month's Olympic Games will be put on sale from Friday at ticket booths located in the various Olympic venues, organizers said on Tuesday, according to Xinhua News Agency. REUTERS/Jason Lee (CHINA) (BEIJING OLYMPICS 2008 PREVIEW)
Reuters
A Chinese man plays with his mobile phone while waiting overnight in line to buy tickets for the 2008 Beijing Olympics games in Beijing, China, Thursday, July 24, 2008. About 250,000 tickets will go on sale on Friday, left over after three previous rounds of domestic sales decided by a lottery system. (AP Photo/Alexander F. Yuan)
AP
People play a card game as they waiting overnight in line for the last chance to buy tickets for the 2008 Beijing Olympics games in Beijing, China, Thursday, July 24, 2008. About 250,000 tickets will go on sale on Friday, left over after three previous rounds of domestic sales decided by a lottery system. (AP Photo/Alexander F. Yuan)
AP
People wait overnight in line for the last chance to buy tickets for the 2008 Beijing Olympics games in Beijing, China, Thursday, July 24, 2008. About 250,000 tickets will go on sale on Friday, left over after three previous rounds of domestic sales decided by a lottery system. (AP Photo/Alexander F. Yuan)
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
1. Way to go Grandma. Teach this thief to work for his money.
Posted at 11:51PM on Jul 23rd 2008 by George B Vieto
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Posted at 8:24PM on Jul 24th 2008 by Brad
3. Talk about family genes.
Posted at 12:08AM on Jul 24th 2008 by Ken R
4. Way to go, Pearline! I would love to have seen that thief's face after she got caught...
Posted at 12:10AM on Jul 24th 2008 by Janet
5. pearline you should win the gold medal too hope grandson wins
Posted at 10:17AM on Jul 24th 2008 by pauline
6. You go girl!
Posted at 10:56AM on Jul 24th 2008 by mags
7. i love it!! Wish I could have been there to see it.
Posted at 11:54AM on Jul 24th 2008 by Deela
8. WOW way to go Grandma. That makes ya smile.
Posted at 8:28PM on Jul 24th 2008 by Poppy
9. go granny...
Posted at 8:58PM on Jul 24th 2008 by jeremy t
10. way to go granny but there were thives when you were young and i bet you kickred thier asses too.this story reminds me of the time some punk pulled a knife on jake lamota when mr lamota was 80 mr lamota knocked him out cold oh if you do not know who jake lamota was watch the movie raging bull
Posted at 9:07PM on Jul 24th 2008 by lewis
11. I think people who steal what others work so hard for, especially those who prey on the elderly, are lower life forms. (Like pond scum.)Way to go, Grandma! If Simeon has inherited her grit as well as her speed, he'll win the gold!
Posted at 9:08PM on Jul 24th 2008 by Gloria
12. Way to go Grandma! It's such a shame what this world has come to - especially trying to take advantage of the elderly. I wish I was there to see Grandma kick some booty heh heh :-D
Posted at 9:30PM on Jul 24th 2008 by Maria
13. People should enver underestimate those older than themselves. They may find a very serious battle on their hands. I admire this woman for defending her property and teaching this thief a lesson.
Posted at 10:28PM on Jul 24th 2008 by PATTY
14. Go Grandma!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted at 10:47PM on Jul 24th 2008 by Lisa
15. She would make a great covergirl for AARP. Stand your ground Grandma.
Posted at 10:49PM on Jul 24th 2008 by Pat
16. mtv video footage of the regular daily broadcast with or without comercials,martha quinn,jj jackson , nina blackwood,alan hunter,mark goodman,from the years 1981-1986 any format vhs, dvd, ect any quality, will buy....greerbondsman100@aol.com
Posted at 10:50PM on Jul 24th 2008 by david
17. Get 'er Grambo! Good for you!
Posted at 10:53PM on Jul 24th 2008 by LJ
18. way to go grandma... my grandma was mugged and her purse stolen and they knocked her to the ground.... glad you got revenge on one of the low lifes ... you GO GIRL !!!
Posted at 11:48PM on Jul 24th 2008 by ad6ap4john
19. Reminds me of the true story about the old man that was attacked by two thugs. Turned out the old man was boxing legand Jack Dempsey. By the time the cops got there the two assailants were begging the cops to arrest them so Dempsey could do no further damage.
Posted at 12:53AM on Jul 25th 2008 by Bill Clausen
20. Good for you Grandma. You go girl...
Posted at 1:17PM on Jul 26th 2008 by Lynn