Earlier this month, 80-year-old Natalie Grabow from Mountain Lakes, New Jersey, became the oldest woman to finish the Ironman World Championship triathlon in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. She completed the race by swimming 2.4 miles, cycling 112 miles, and running a full 26.2-mile marathon. Grabow only learned to swim when she was 59 and trained for years to reach this level, finishing the race in 16 hours, 45 minutes, and 26 seconds.
Her coach, Michelle Lake, calls Grabow “the definition of grit and gratitude” for her determination to keep going. She grew up when there were fewer opportunities for female athletes and didn’t participate in competitive sports until adulthood. She started by running, then took up swimming in her late 50s by practicing at her local YMCA and teaching herself through books and videos.
Grabow completed her first half Ironman when she was 60 and later moved to full Ironman races. "Triathlon allows me to feel strong both mentally and physically, and it satisfies my competitive spirit."
She plans to continue competing and has already signed up for two Ironman events next year. She hopes her story helps others believe they can push themselves further than they thought possible.