Grandmother of Sprinter Simeon Williamson Runs Down Thief Who Stole Her Purse

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. ...

"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."

I think Pearline just earned her grandson a lot of older fans.

Hat tip: Steady Burn.

Latest Olympics Photos

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)

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)

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)

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)

Reuters

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)

Getty Images

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)

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)

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)