.jpeg?width=1200&auto=webp&crop=3%3A2)
Gladiator Montell Douglas, known as Fire, says she’s embracing turning 40 and wouldn’t go back to her 20s if you paid her.
She has worn many hats in her lifetime already with the former sprinter and bobsledder from London the first British woman to do the Summer/Winter Olympics double.
Last year, she challenged herself once again when she competed on Strictly Come Dancing where she was paired with pro dancer Johannes Radebe and finished in sixth place.
As an athlete, she says she has faced prejudice because of her age, but feels “at my strongest” ahead of her milestone birthday next year.
This is evident given she can currently be seen pushing her body to the limits in the second series of Gladiators.
Speaking to The Standard, she said: "I feel like we were lied to, I feel like it’s a lie actually and we need to find a truth in ourselves and you’re as healthy and fit as you feel. It’s not even about being young. I love that I feel my most strongest and confident at almost 40. I wouldn’t even go back to being 21-year-old girl me because I wasn’t this woman that I am right now at all. I’ve had more personal bests in my lifting since 31 onwards.
“Every year I was PBing which is bizarre, people think for athletes because you’re getting better after 30? I’m like well yeah, you can, I don’t know who told you that you couldn’t. I think it was more a mindset and our perception of 40 was totally different.”
She went on: “It’s important to keep moving forward, realigning your goals and resetting them because you aren’t the same person that you are going to be. Ten years ago I wasn’t the same 29-year-old, but do I still have a major skillset? Yes. Am I still really determined? Yes. So let me use those things and then my experience is ten fold and I’m really adaptable so why I can’t I use those things?”
She is practising what she preaches too by teaming up with the Department for Education on its Skills for Life campaign. Together, they’re encouraging people to think about their learning health as well as their physical health and learn new skills that could boost their confidence, career prospects and so much more.
Douglas - who is currently studying for her third degree and learning British sign language - said: “I want to show people that I’m approaching my 40s and trying new skills. I feel like a lot of us feel pressure with lifestyle, family, in terms of me as a woman, other pressures like aging... I’m like, lets just do it the way that we want to do it. Be the best way you can and the best way to do that is always keep pushing forward in every realm.
“I think that’s the one thing that has kept me the youngest and full of vitality because my mind is always staying sharp, thinking ahead and pushing forward. Your body will follow your mind at all times so that’s where it starts.”
To find out more about the free and flexible training courses in your local area search ‘Skills for Life’.
