Natalie Grabow Becomes Oldest Woman to Finish Ironman World Championship at 80, Coach Calls Her Definition of Grit

People Magazine ^ | 10/17.2025 | Sean Neumann

[srmanuel]

Think of swimming 2.4 miles in the ocean, afterwards riding a bike 112 miles and then running a 26.2-mile marathon, in a single day under 17-hours or be disqualified. I could not complete one of those events, much less all 3 in a single day.

Then I read about this 80-year-old Grandmother who became the oldest woman to complete the Ironman Triathlon in Kona, Hawaii.

Remarkably, this 80-year-old woman didn't learn to swim until she was 59 years old.

Here is a video of her finishing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VTNb1VVnPKM

Here's another article on her training routine leading up to the Ironman.

https://www.self.com/story/oldest-woman-ironman-world-championship

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TOPICS: Outdoors
KEYWORDS: ironman

[oldplayer]

Completed a 1/2 Ironman when I was 60. Believe me, that was quite enough of THAT!

[srmanuel]

Learning to swim at 59, then completing the Ironman Triathlon at 80 is pretty remarkable.

[sauropod]

I remember Ironman.

[Governor Dinwiddie]

Yes. Very remarkable. Amazing. Most people half her age don't even have a hope of doing the same.

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

☑