91-Year-Old Athlete Defies Age, Continues Breaking Records in Steeplechase, Hurdles and Pole Vault

Florence Meiler also has 6 World Masters Athletics records, and is a 91-year-old athlete from Vermont, US. She was only 60 years old when she picked up track and field; her friend encouraged her to do so. Today, over 30 years later, Meiler continues compete in a variety of events and make historic strides to her accomplishments.

It was not until he was 60 years old that Florence Meiler began competing.

Meiler's athletic career started when her friend Barbara Jordan encouraged her to go to the Vermont Senior Games to try the long jump. The two women trained and competed together for 20 years, challenging and supporting each other to become better and sharing several of their achievements in the process.

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They didn't last long because Jordan was diagnosed with cancer. She didn't do any sports anymore and passed away in 2020 after a five-year period of illness at the age of 85.

Even when training is tough, Meiler still thinks of her friend. “Her absence is so deep,” she said to Aging Untold. “I miss her so much.”

Meiler shared about their encouragement and competitiveness in a profile for the Olympic Channel in 2020.

We would challenge each other and criticize each other, it was really great training together,” she said.

She said it can sometimes be challenging to train alone but with Jordan in mind, she's able to do it.

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The 91-year-old athlete is still making records

Meiler's six events on her record-breaking list are all in the 90-94 age group. This includes 2,000m Steeplechase, 80m Hurdles, Pole Vault, High Jump, Triple Jump and Pentathlon.

Records are presented in the order of World Masters Athletics, the international organisation that maintains records for Masters athletes.

Other athletes too have been inspired by Meiler's work and have even come out on stage with her and expressed how they are inspired by her. “It's a really good feeling to be able to have so many athletes come up to me and say, ‘What an inspiration you have been to me.’”

Her motto is 'never too late'

In her Olympic Channel profile, Meiler summed up her approach to life and sport in three simple words: “Never too late”.

Competing started at 60 when a friend suggested it to her. She is still competing and breaking records in her age group at 91 years old.

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