Turning back the clock: 72-year-old shares incredible fitness journey after accident
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For some, no matter how you view it, age is just a number.
Over the years, we’ve shared many stories of seniors defying expectations by doing things many would say are not apt for their age. Sharon is no exception.
The 72-year-old has shared her inspiring journey towards achieving remarkable fitness goals.
Her fitness journey began at the age of 35, which was a significant turning point in her life. This transformation was prompted by a car accident she had endured at the age of 18, which initially left her with doubts about her ability to walk on her injured leg.
‘I was told I wouldn’t be able to walk on my leg,’ Sharon began. For the next decade, she was full of concern she would never be able to walk again—but the break came one day.
‘So I got to about 35, and then I started playing netball, and I realised: “Okay, well, I can do this.”’
Her stint with netball started a chain of activities that led her down a path of fitness. After her netball days, she discovered a fitness group that engaged in activities like walking and running.
As her enthusiasm grew, she ventured into marathon running and even participated in the World Games, a quadrennial event showcasing sports not commonly seen in the Olympics.
Reflecting on her experience at the World Games, she once recalled an unexpected opportunity that happened to her, saying: ‘I was there for the 1200 metres, and I wasn’t supposed to compete in the 400 metres.’
To her surprise, she turned out to be the fastest runner in that category!
Her competition included Charlene Rendina, who had held the Australian record for the 800-metre sprint until 2019. Despite not winning the race, Sharon considered this achievement a significant milestone in her athletic journey, alongside the joy of raising her two wonderful children.
Sharon's athletic endeavours didn't stop there. She also participated in the City2Surf race and took on the Kokoda Challenge when she was 63 years old.
Sharon also recently participated in the HYROX challenge, a unique fitness race combining running with functional workout stations. In this event, participants alternated between running a kilometre and tackling a functional workout station, repeating this sequence eight times.
Sharon described the challenge as an incredible experience, but it wasn't without its share of hurdles leading 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 remembered.
‘I found a woman who hadn’t run 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.’
On the actual race day, there were some hiccups. The duo received time penalties for completing one section more times than required.
Nevertheless, Sharon felt a sense of accomplishment and pride in her and her partner's efforts. They were cheered on by a supportive crowd, making the overall experience exciting and memorable.
Sharon is an active member of Body Fit Training (BFT) Clyde North, where she recently accomplished her remarkable 500th workout milestone. She finds the gym experience incredibly enjoyable, citing the diverse range of exercises as her favourite aspect.
‘You’ve got balance, so every day is different,’ she said.
BFT offers different workouts over six days, encompassing strength, cardio, and balance training, ensuring that every day brings something new and exciting.
What makes Sharon's fitness journey even more special is her connection with the gym—her daughter is the owner! With her daughter's support, Sharon has been able to conquer fitness goals she never thought possible, like mastering rope climbing.
Sharon often finds herself in the spotlight due to her age in the fitness world. However, she firmly believes in the motto ‘Use it or lose it.’
When she's not hitting the gym, Sharon enjoys dancing on Friday or Saturday nights.
Many were concerned about certain dance moves hurting her hips, but Sharon's response has always been the same—they haven't seen her in the gym!
We're all in awe of Sharon's story here at the SDC, and we wish her the best in her fitness journey ahead! It shows that age truly is just a number; there’s no limit to what you can achieve when you set your mind to it.
Sharon's story has inspired us, and we hope it inspires you, too, members! Now, excuse us as we head out for a quick jog and a workout...
Over the years, we’ve shared many stories of seniors defying expectations by doing things many would say are not apt for their age. Sharon is no exception.
The 72-year-old has shared her inspiring journey towards achieving remarkable fitness goals.
Her fitness journey began at the age of 35, which was a significant turning point in her life. This transformation was prompted by a car accident she had endured at the age of 18, which initially left her with doubts about her ability to walk on her injured leg.
‘I was told I wouldn’t be able to walk on my leg,’ Sharon began. For the next decade, she was full of concern she would never be able to walk again—but the break came one day.
‘So I got to about 35, and then I started playing netball, and I realised: “Okay, well, I can do this.”’
Her stint with netball started a chain of activities that led her down a path of fitness. After her netball days, she discovered a fitness group that engaged in activities like walking and running.
Sharon started taking fitness seriously at 35 after a car accident at 18. Credit: Shutterstock.
As her enthusiasm grew, she ventured into marathon running and even participated in the World Games, a quadrennial event showcasing sports not commonly seen in the Olympics.
Reflecting on her experience at the World Games, she once recalled an unexpected opportunity that happened to her, saying: ‘I was there for the 1200 metres, and I wasn’t supposed to compete in the 400 metres.’
To her surprise, she turned out to be the fastest runner in that category!
Her competition included Charlene Rendina, who had held the Australian record for the 800-metre sprint until 2019. Despite not winning the race, Sharon considered this achievement a significant milestone in her athletic journey, alongside the joy of raising her two wonderful children.
Sharon's athletic endeavours didn't stop there. She also participated in the City2Surf race and took on the Kokoda Challenge when she was 63 years old.
Sharon also recently participated in the HYROX challenge, a unique fitness race combining running with functional workout stations. In this event, participants alternated between running a kilometre and tackling a functional workout station, repeating this sequence eight times.
Sharon described the challenge as an incredible experience, but it wasn't without its share of hurdles leading 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 remembered.
‘I found a woman who hadn’t run 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.’
On the actual race day, there were some hiccups. The duo received time penalties for completing one section more times than required.
Nevertheless, Sharon felt a sense of accomplishment and pride in her and her partner's efforts. They were cheered on by a supportive crowd, making the overall experience exciting and memorable.
Sharon is an active member of Body Fit Training (BFT) Clyde North, where she recently accomplished her remarkable 500th workout milestone. She finds the gym experience incredibly enjoyable, citing the diverse range of exercises as her favourite aspect.
‘You’ve got balance, so every day is different,’ she said.
BFT offers different workouts over six days, encompassing strength, cardio, and balance training, ensuring that every day brings something new and exciting.
What makes Sharon's fitness journey even more special is her connection with the gym—her daughter is the owner! With her daughter's support, Sharon has been able to conquer fitness goals she never thought possible, like mastering rope climbing.
Sharon often finds herself in the spotlight due to her age in the fitness world. However, she firmly believes in the motto ‘Use it or lose it.’
When she's not hitting the gym, Sharon enjoys dancing on Friday or Saturday nights.
Many were concerned about certain dance moves hurting her hips, but Sharon's response has always been the same—they haven't seen her in the gym!
We're all in awe of Sharon's story here at the SDC, and we wish her the best in her fitness journey ahead! It shows that age truly is just a number; there’s no limit to what you can achieve when you set your mind to it.
Sharon's story has inspired us, and we hope it inspires you, too, members! Now, excuse us as we head out for a quick jog and a workout...
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