An incredibly fit grandma in her 70s has been crowned the world champion in Ironman 70.3 following a tough race in America. Linda Ashmore won the women’s 75-79 age group on Friday, October 25 and also became the oldest female finisher in its history.
The 76-year-old only started competing in triathlons in 2014, making her victory even more impressive. Linda ended up qualifying for the holy grail in long-distance triathlon, the Ironman World Championship in Kailua-Kona in 2015, where she came first, second and third in her age group across multiple years, Dorset Live reports.
Her amazing feat comes only three weeks after she failed to finish at Kailua-Kona due to challenging cramps, but was determined to win in St George. Linda said: “I came to win in a good time, but the freezing temperature meant I was more cautious on the bike.
"I am over the moon to have finished and become world champion in my age group and show the world that we should, and can, keep active into our later years.”
The retired assistant head of a secondary school, who was also the oldest female to complete the race, is also a grandmother of eight children, ranging from ages seven to 12. Linda commented: “Children accept all the ‘daft’ things I do, they are adventurous themselves, but my daughter does worry especially as I travel alone.”
Linda completed the 2022 Intermountain Healthcare Ironman 70.3 World Championship triathlon in 07:21:22, which included a swim time of 0:43:22. 03:49:44 on the bike course and ran for 02:33:24. The race encompassed a 1.2-mile swim in the Sand Hollow Reservoir in
Hurricane, followed by the 56-mile bike course that led athletes through Snow Canyon State Park. The event capped off with a two-loop, 13.1-mile course through historic downtown St. George, where the finish line is located, with the route also showcasing Dixie Red Hills Golf Course and Vernon Worthen Park.
Just last year, Linda Ashmore became the oldest British woman to complete a full Ironman in Cascais in Portugal.
