Buzz
Ever watched someone and thought, 'I wish I could do that'? We all have those thoughts, but how often do we take real steps to make them happen? This list showcases 10 individuals who embody the belief that age is nothing more than a number, demonstrating that it's never too late to begin something new (or rediscover a past passion) and truly thrive at it.
10. 84-Year-Old Inventor
George Weiss is the definition of perseverance. At 84, he’s never stopped pursuing his love for inventing and experimenting. For the past five decades, it’s been a hobby that filled his spare time, though it never became more than that. After retiring at 75, he continued to work as a wallpaper hanger, all while crafting over 80 inventions, each stored in his basement. Though none of his ideas have ever caught the attention of a company, Weiss remains undeterred, tirelessly working on new projects.
He then came up with an invention called the Dabble. Dabble is a word game created by Weiss, where players form five words using 20 lettered tiles. A typical game lasts about 15 minutes. He cherishes the game because it was something he played with his wife, who now suffers from Alzheimer’s. The two have been married for 61 years. After the game went viral and was turned into a mobile app, Weiss became the world’s oldest app inventor.
9. 77-Year-Old Bodybuilder
In 2010 and 2011, at the ages of 73 and 74, Ernestine Shepherd earned the title of the world’s oldest active female bodybuilder, according to the Guinness Book of World Records. Just 20 years earlier, she was in her 50s and dissatisfied with her body. She recalls being out of shape and inactive until she made the decision to take charge of her health and began exercising. Her fitness journey began at 56 when she joined an aerobics class with her sister, who sadly passed away shortly after in 1992. Shepherd gradually increased her exercise routine, but it wasn’t until a trainer encouraged her to try weightlifting that she ventured into the world of bodybuilding.
Her life now revolves around maintaining her health. She rises at 2:30 every morning to run 10 miles, then heads to the gym, where she works as a personal trainer. Shepherd is more than just a bodybuilder—she’s also a competitive marathon runner. She says her goal is to carry on her sister’s legacy, which was to inspire others to lead healthier lives. Shepherd believes that anyone can start from scratch and reach their fitness goals.
8. 79-Year-Old Track And Field Star
Ernestine Sheppard isn’t the only senior defying expectations. From Shelburne, Vermont, comes Flo Meiler, who began her track and field journey at the age of 60 years old. Five years later, she took up pole vaulting. Now at 79, Meiler boasts 12 US records and an impressive 15 world records. She attributes her longevity and success to staying active throughout her life, and despite nearing her 80s, she claims she’s in the best shape ever.
Switching from tennis at the Senior Olympics to track and field was a leap of faith. She was invited to join when the team needed more members. In her first competition, she placed in the top four, which motivated her to continue.
7. 80-Year-Old Everest Climber
At the age of 80, Yuichiro Miura made history by becoming the oldest person to summit Mount Everest. But Miura isn’t the only one striving for this milestone. In fact, he had previously attempted it at 75, only to be surpassed by Min Bahadur Sherchan, who reached the summit a day earlier at 76. Miura’s passion for Everest began decades ago when he skied down the mountain in 1970, and since then, he’s climbed it multiple times.
Miura has faced his share of health challenges—before his latest summit, he fractured his hip and underwent heart surgery. But he focused on his recovery, training three times a week with a backpack weighing as much as 30 kilograms (66 lbs). Miura aims to motivate others to chase their dreams: “If you have a dream, never give up. Dreams come true.”
6. 86-Year-Old Gymnast
Johanna Quaas is proof that age is just a number. Recognized as the World’s Oldest Gymnast by the Guinness Book of World Records at age 86, Quaas began gymnastics after having children and entered her first competition at 57 years old. She participated in the 2012 German Cottbus World Cup, competing on the parallel bars, an event traditionally reserved for men. By 2012, she had earned 11 gymnastic medals.
Johanna’s love for gymnastics began in her youth. She was a gymnastics coach in 1945, but took a break when she had children. Now, at 86, she practices mainly for enjoyment, as she is 10 years older than the other competitors in her category. Her performances at the Cottbus World Cup became viral, with YouTube videos garnering over 3.4 million views.
5. 94-Year-Old Rower And Bodybuilder
Dr. Charles Eugster holds the title of the world’s oldest rower and bodybuilder. He began bodybuilding at the age of 87, attributing his motivation to 'pure vanity.' Eugster jokes that his goal is to 'turn the heads of the sexy young 70-year-old girls on the beach.' His journey into bodybuilding began when he realized he had become overweight and unhealthy. After seeing positive changes, he hired a former Mr. Universe to be his trainer.
Eugster was a competitive rower in college, but his active lifestyle took a backseat when his dental career took off. Since embracing bodybuilding, he has also returned to rowing. The only challenge he faces in competitions is the lack of opponents in his age group—everyone else is at least 10 years younger than him. Eugster, like many senior athletes, aims to motivate others to get up, move, and stay active. He believes that many elderly people suffer from illness and injury due to inactivity and hopes to change that.
4. 100-Year-Old Teacher
At the age of 81, Agnes Zhelesnik began her teaching career at the Sundance School, a private elementary school in New Jersey. Before that, she had been a stay-at-home mother, but in 1995, she joined the faculty part-time. Over time, she transitioned into a full-time role, teaching sewing and cooking classes. Born on January 12, 1914, the beloved 'Granny' has lived through both World Wars. After losing her husband in 1999 following 61 years of marriage, she now enjoys the company of their two children, four grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.
One of Zhelesnik’s children, also named Agnes and 69 years old, teaches at the same school. She drives her mother to work each morning. At her 100th birthday celebration, Zhelesnik had no plans to retire, making her the oldest working teacher in the world. Her students and their parents adore her for the wisdom and positivity she brings to school every day. Remarkably, she hasn’t missed a day of work since she turned 98. When asked about her enduring energy, she simply says, 'See my two legs? They still move.'
3. 106-Year-Old Volunteer
Dorrie Aber-Noyek, born on Valentine’s Day in 1907, is considered a 'super ager' by scientists. Super agers are individuals who live exceptionally long lives despite not necessarily following healthy habits. Aber-Noyek admits that she hasn’t always been careful with her health—she enjoys Alfredo sauce, eats cookies every single day, and has never stuck to a regular workout routine. However, she attributes her longevity to staying active and busy. For 40 years, she’s volunteered at the same hospital and prefers walking to driving, a habit she developed as a child in rural England.
Aber-Noyek still lives independently in her condo without any assistance. Despite facing health challenges, including surviving colon cancer and the loss of seven siblings and two husbands, she remains active. She walks the hospital corridors, delivering mail with such speed that she once asked a CNN reporter if he needed her to slow down so he could keep up. She has no intention of slowing down anytime soon.
2. 102-Year-Old Cycling Champion
In 2012, Robert Marchand, a Frenchman aged 100, set a centenarian cycling record by covering 100 kilometers (62.13 mi) in 4 hours, 17 minutes, and 27 seconds, averaging a speed of 23.01 kilometers per hour (14.3 mph). This wasn’t his first achievement, though—earlier that same year, he cycled just under 25 kilometers (15.5 mi) in an hour.
Marchand’s love for cycling began when he was just 14 years old. After a long break, he returned to the sport at the age of 67 in 1978. He didn’t stop racing until he was 89, at which point he committed more time to competitive cycling. Acknowledging his physical limits, Marchand has since decided never to cycle beyond 100 kilometers. Now, at 102, he continues to ride strong and even attempted to break his own record on January 31, 2014.
1. 98-Year-Old Judo Master
Sensei Keiko Fukuda made history as the first woman to be awarded a 10th-degree black belt in Judo. At the time, she was the only living person in the United States with this prestigious honor; the other three, all men, resided in Japan. Only 15 individuals have ever received the 10th-degree black belt in Judo, and Fukuda was 98 years old when she earned it. Standing at just 147.3 centimeters (4’10”) and weighing 45 kilograms (100 lbs), she used a wheelchair to get around—but that never held her back.
A beloved instructor in San Francisco, Fukuda taught Judo three times a week and spent 51 years as a committed teacher. Renowned worldwide for her devotion, she was the granddaughter of a Japanese samurai from the 1800s and was passionate about empowering women in the sport. As the last living student of Jigoro Kano, the founder of Judo, she earned the title of the 'mother of American Judo.' She passed away a year after fulfilling her life's goal of achieving the 10th-degree black belt.
