Seventy-year-old woman secures triathlon world championship title

A woman who started competing in triathlons in her late 50s has been named world champion for her age group. Judy Orme, 70, from Portishead, triumphed in the 70-74 age category of the 2024 World Triathlon Championships, which occurred in Torremolinos, Spain, on 19 October. Competing for Great Britain, she completed the triathlon in three hours and 13 minutes. The event comprised a 1,500m swim, a 40km bike ride, and a 10km run. Ms Orme stated: “I never thought I’d win. I still really can’t believe it.” The 70-year-old mentioned that although she had “always enjoyed being active,” her initial foray into competitive running occurred in her 40s. “I used to play tennis and squash and did mountain walking – then running gradually crept onto the scene,” she informed BBC Radio Bristol. Ms Orme subsequently advanced her running pursuits, participating in 5km, 10km, and half-marathons, prior to deciding to undertake a full marathon during her return journey from competing in the Bath Half. “I met somebody on the train and I said ‘oh I think I want to try a marathon’,” she recounted. “It was just lucky she was a personal trainer and she said ‘I can help you do that’.” “I sort of haven’t looked back from there.” Ms Orme finished her inaugural marathon in Edinburgh in 2012, at the age of 58, and has also participated in marathons in Chicago, Boston, New York, London, and Tokyo. She has since adopted triathlon as a method of cross-training. “I never thought that I’d ever end up where I am now,” she commented. Ms Orme expressed her enjoyment of every facet of triathlon. “You need to put in more time and more effort because muscle mass as you get older does decrease and you have to keep working at it a bit harder but I love all that,” she explained. Ms Orme indicated that while “there’s always been this little bit” of her that possesses a competitive spirit, for her, the primary focus is on “a part of these very large events” and the “camaraderie around meeting other people.” “I’ve met some incredible people and I suppose that’s my inspiration to keep on going,” she further stated. To individuals considering taking up the sport, Ms Orme advised: “You have to believe in yourself. You have to be determined.” Regarding future plans, Ms Orme expressed her aspiration to compete in the 2025 World Marathon Championships in New York. Readers can follow BBC Somerset on Facebook and X. Story ideas may be submitted via email or WhatsApp at 0800 313 4630. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the content found on external sites. Information regarding their approach to external linking is available.