92-Year-Old Hawaii Grandma Finishes 10K in Under 2.5 Hours

Mathea Allansmith wasn't slowing down when she turned 92. The Hawaii grandmother became the oldest woman to complete a 10-kilometer race, finishing the 2022 Honolulu Marathon in just 2 hours and 29 minutes.

Born in Koloa, Hawaii, in 1930, Mathea didn't even start running until her 40s. She told Guinness World Records that the Honolulu Marathon is one of her favorites because they never close the gates, letting even the slowest runners complete the course.

She's not alone in defying expectations about aging and athletics. Ida Herbert from Ontario, Canada, became the world's oldest yoga teacher at 95 in 2012, leading weekly classes from her home at Bayshore Village.

Ida started teaching yoga at the Orillia YMCA back in the 1940s, decades before yoga became mainstream. She woke up at 5:30 every morning for sun salutations, crediting the practice for her longevity and positive outlook.

After celebrating her 100th birthday in 2016, Ida passed peacefully in 2020 at 103, leaving behind a legacy of inspiring others to keep moving. Her students learned that flexibility and strength can grow at any age.

Gloria Elena De Stoppello Belandria from Venezuela proved core strength has no age limit. At 86 years old, she held an abdominal plank for 5 minutes and 44 seconds, becoming the oldest woman to achieve that feat.

The retired dentist didn't attempt the record on a whim. She trained for six years after retirement, embracing fitness as her new calling and sparking celebrations across Venezuela when she succeeded.

Then there's Ralph Vaccaro, who didn't even try curling until he was 87 years old. By 99, he was still competing actively at the Cape Cod Curling Club in Massachusetts, becoming the oldest male curling player on record.

The World War II veteran and oceanographer discovered the sport when his wife encouraged him to try it for fun. He stuck with it for over a decade, proving that it's never too late to find a new passion.

Why This Inspires

These athletes challenge everything we assume about aging and ability. They started new sports in their 40s, 80s, and 90s, trained for years, and set records that inspire people of all ages to keep moving and trying new things.

Their stories remind us that the finish line isn't determined by our birth year.