1️⃣0️⃣ 40+ Women Who Rocked 2024 🏋️♀️
As we spin down the final miles of 2024, before rolling through transition to hit the new year running, let’s take a moment to give a nod of appreciation to all the 40+ women (including you!) who have shown us that the only hill we’re over at 40 is the one we’re hiking down after bagging a 14er and that there are plenty of years of muscle ups, drop serves, black diamond runs, and whatever else floats our fancy ahead of us.
We also expect to see lists like this get longer and longer in the years to come. We have more women who have been playing sports since they were a kid. We have a way better understanding of fueling and training and recovery. And culturally, there’s a rise in women’s sports, so more of us are seeing what’s possible, and going for it ourselves. We’re here for all of it. And today, we’re here to appreciate a handful (this is in no way an exhaustive list!) of women from around the sports universe leading the way.
Melanie McQuaid, 51, triathlon
Mel is a Feisty favorite for sure. In 2023, at the age of 50, she made her first trip to Kona, making history as the oldest professional triathlete to qualify for the World Championship race. In 2024, she continued on the Ironman journey, completing Ironman Canada in 11th place in some cold, challenging conditions.
Leah Goldstein, 55, cycling
In 2021, at the age of 52, Goldstein won the grueling solo division of Race Across America (RAAM) outright, beating the next closest man by more than 16 hours. This summer, she came in 3rd overall and 1st in the women’s division in the Trans Am Bike Nonstop race, finishing 4,191 miles in 22 days, 3 hours, and 2 minutes.
Deanna Stellato-Dudek, 41, figure skating
After stepping away from the sport at age 17 following debilitating hip injuries, Stellato-Dudek returned to skating in 2016 and this year, at age 40, became the oldest female figure skater to win a world title last March in Montreal. American born, she has recently been granted Canadian citizenship, clearing a path for her and her pairs partner Maxime Deschamps to compete for Canada at the 2026 Milan Olympics.
Dame Sarah Storey, Age 47, cycling & swimming
The British Paralympian has 19 gold medals and is a six-time British national track champion. The swimmer-turned-cyclist won the 18th and 19th of her Paralympic gold medals in Paris this past September. Storey was also on the shortlist for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award in 2024 for her years of impact on para-sports.
Diana Taurasi, 42, Basketball
A professional WNBA player for the Phoenix Mercury, Taurasi is largely regarded as one of the greatest women’s basketball players of all time. The 20-year veteran is currently mulling whether she’ll take the court for another year next season, but either way, total legend.
Malindi Elmore, 44, running
A runner who crushes all distances, Elmore made her Olympic debut in Athens in 2004 in the 1500m, in the marathon in Tokyo 2020, and again in Paris 2024, where she finished 35th and was the only Canadian in the race. One of her favorite sayings according to Penticton Western News is, “There is no best before date.”
Oksana Chusovitina, 49, gymnastics
The Uzbekistani gymnast has competed in eight Olympic Games and was gunning for her ninth in Paris 2024 when she was forced to pull out of contention after she sustained an injury while practicing her floor exercise at the Asian Championships in Tashken. What an incredible run.
Nino Salukvadze, 55, shooting
Salukvadze began her Olympic career back in Seoul 1988. This year the Georgian shooter competed in a mind-blowing, female record-setting 10th Olympic Games in Paris 2024, where she competed in the 10-meter air pistol and the 25-meter pistol. She didn’t advance to the finals in either, but over the years has achieved one gold medal, one silver and one bronze.
Laura Kraut, 59, equestrian
Kraut had her first riding lesson when she was three and rode in her first Olympic Games in 2000. Kraut competed at the Paris 2024 Olympics, marking her fifth Olympic Games, where she made history as the oldest US medalist at the Games in 72 years, earning a silver medal as part of the US equestrian jumping team.
Serena Williams, 43, tennis
Wait? Didn’t the tennis GOAT retire in 2022 to grow her family (which she did in 2023 with the birth of her daughter Adira)--a decision she publicly grappled with, because well, she really didn’t want to hang up her racket? Yes she did. But in May, she caused a seismic ripple through the Interwebs when she Tweeted, “I’m ready to hit some balls again.” Whether that means we might see her back holding court is TBD, but it’s an exciting possibility.
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