Be Athletic at Eighty Years Old

Fitness for Work and Play

You should have energy to the ordinary things of life.

You should be able to walk long distances, and go up and down hills with ease.

You should be able to walk briskly. Can you stand upon one leg while putting a sock on the other?

You should be able to get down on the floor and up again without support.

When your walk slows, and especially when you begin to shuffle, your health is seriously impaired.

Exercise is important for your mind. Exercise increases the blood flow and 25% of that flows through the brain.

Exercise increases your strength and your confidence, and improves your quality of life.

An increasing number of falls is a bad sign. A serious fall resulting in a broken hip is often a signal of near term mortality. Keep dancing, it improves your strength and your balance.

Clare Johnston (20 minutes)

My parents are in their 80s and getting STRONGER! In this one-year-update of Rebuilding Mum & Dad, we document the remarkable progress they've made through strength training and the difference it has made to their lives.

Published by: The Honest Channel - January, 2026

By Penny Travers (3 minutes)

Corry Collins was 55 when she took up running — 29 years on she's still setting Australian and world athletics records. The now 84-year-old holds the 400m Australian record for women in her age group, but was recently talked into running an 800m relay by her friends to set a new world

The now 84-year-old holds the 400m Australian record for women in her age group, but was recently talked into running an 800m relay by her friends to set a new world record.
"I took a bit of convincing; I was thinking that 800 metres was a bit long," she said.
"I trained two to three times a week just going on short runs and hoping I was doing enough.

The training paid off, with Corry, alongside Jo Klemke, 83, Consie Larmour, 85, and Anne Young, 85, clocking 26:03.52 for their W80 4x800m relay.

Published by: ABC News (Australia) - 16 Mar 2021

(17 minutes)

What does it take to become an athlete at 70, 80, or even 90? Five older Americans prove that it’s never too late to start and that exercising “is the most powerful drug for longevity.” They've set goals, built community, and found purpose through sports such as swimming, track, table tennis, and powerlifting.

Published by: Business Insider - 5 Nov 2025

Dr Catherine Walter (5 minutes)

Struggling with exercise? Then take a leaf out of this 72-year-old’s book.

Oxford University fellow Dr Catherine Walter discovered her passion for powerlifting just seven years ago.

Now a powerlifting club captain and a world record holder, Catherine tells us how important exercise is.

Bone density age was 20 years old after the powerlifting training.

Published by: Heal Young Massage - 3 Nov 2020

(6 minutes)

At age 102, Julia Hawkins has a lot of passions in life, but none more thrilling than running. She broke a world record for the 100-meter dash by female competitors 100 years and older and she shows no signs of stopping.

Published by: ESPN - 19 Mar 2018

(2 minutes)

102-year-old Julia "Hurricane" Hawkins and 100-year-old Orville Rogers just broke world records in track and field events. How do they do it? "I have a determination to hang in there. Keep going. Never give up," Rogers has said.

Published by: CBS News - 20 Mar 2018

(16 minutes)

Lew Hollander uncovered a newfound enthusiasm for fitness at the age of 55 that would change his life and set him on an extraordinary path. Now, with hundreds of triathlons under his belt, together with 70 Ironman distance races, Lew is a living legend in the world of endurance sports.

Published by: Longevity Secrets - 7 Apr 2023

Preserving Your Strength and Agility

Dr. Steven Horwitz, D.C. (10 minutes)

Published by: Dr. Steven Horwitz - 12 May 2020

Dr. Steven Horwitz, D.C. (4 minutes)

Published by: Dr. Steven Horwitz - 26 Jun 2020