Woman, 72, searches for her next big fitness challenge

A 72-year-old woman has revealed how she is looking to tackle her next big fitness challenge after taking part in one of the most difficult feats earlier this year.

72yo woman defies fitness expectations

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A 72-year-old woman has revealed how she is planning her next fitness feat after conquering one difficult challenge already this year.

Sharon didn’t get her passion for fitness until she was 35, after having a bad car accident when she was just 18.

“I was told I wouldn’t be able to walk on my leg, so I got to about 35 and then I started playing netball and I realised ‘Okay, well I can do this’,” she told news.com.au.

So, after playing netball, she joined a fitness group where she took part in walking, running and other exercises.

Sharon started taking fitness seriously at 35 after a car accident at 18. Picture: Supplied

Quickly, her passion for fitness was ignited and she began to compete in marathons and even took part in the World Games, which is held every four years and features sports not typically seen at the Olympics.

“I was there for the 1200 metres, and I wasn’t supposed to compete in the 400 metres but I was the fastest runner,” she said.

Sharon said nobody knew who she was when she competed but she was in a heat against Charlene Rendina, who held the Australian record for the 800 metre sprint until 2019, and beat her.

“So that was a big achievement apart from have my two beautiful children,” she said.

Sharon also competed in the City2Surf and has took part in the Kokoda challenge when she was 63.

Sharon has competed in the World Games and taken part in the Kokoda Challenge. Picture: Supplied

Most recently, she took part in the HYROX challenge, which is a fitness race that combines both running and functional workout stations, where participants run a kilometre, followed by taking on a functional workout station, and this process is repeated eight times.

Sharon said the challenge was amazing, but there were some issues in the lead up to the big day.

“My first partner, she got sick and she couldn’t compete so I had to race around at the last minute and try and get a replacement,” she said.

“I found a woman who hadn’t ran for six years, and she stepped up, but she hadn’t done any HYROX training whatsoever. But she’d been going to the gym and she stepped up and she did it with me.”

She recently took part in the HYROX challenge. Picture: Supplied

Things didn’t go perfectly on the day either, with the duo receiving time penalties for doing one section too many times. But, all in all, it was a success.

“I was really proud of my partner because she stepped up and there were so many people there cheering us on. It was exciting,” Sharon said.

Sharon is also a member of BFT Clyde North, where she recently completed her 500th work out.

“The most important thing I enjoy [about the gym] is the variety because it’s six days you can do six different things and then you’ve got us your strength and your cardio. You’ve got balance so every day is different,” she said.

She recently completed her 500th session at BFT Clyde North. Picture: Supplied

Sharon’s daughter owns the gym and helps her mother crack her fitness goals, such as climbing a rope. She said her daughter was incredibly supportive and consistency helps her push herself.

Sharon’s age often draws a lot of attention in the fitness world but, as she says, “you have to use it or lose it”.

“I often go dancing on a Friday or Saturday night and so many people say they can’t do certain moves – they tell me I’ll hurt my hip,” she said.

“I tell them they haven’t seen me in the gym!”

Now, Sharon is just working on finding her next big fitness challenge to take part in.