At an age when simply stepping off a curb can present challenges, 91-year-old Johanna Quaas is doing cartwheels, headstands, and working the parallel bars better than someone half her age.
That’s because Quaas is the oldest competitive gymnast in the world.
According to The Straits Times, she got her start in the sport at 10 years old, but soon had to quit because her family moved from Saxony in then East Germany to a different part of the country. Then World War II erupted and she was required, as were all children, to do a year of social service.
After having three children, and even playing competitive handball, Quaas took up gymnastics again at 57.
“My proudest moment so far was when I was 84 years old and there was no one in my age group competing in the championships. So they put me with the others in the 70-75 age group and I still won by one point.”
She trains for one hour every day, and makes sure to eat plenty of fruits and vegetables.
“My face is old but my heart is young. Maybe the day I stop doing gymnastics is the day I die.”
Take a look at what this athlete can do:
And here are some photos of her:
I think I’ll buck up and go to the gym now.