99-Year-Old Ida Keeling Breaks 100-Meter Record at Gay Games


She’s 99 years old, 4 feet 6 inches, 83 pounds, and Ida Keeling has endurance that defies the ages. The great-great grandmother from the Bronx competed in the Gay Games last week, finishing the 100-meter race in 59.8 seconds—a time that her coach and daughter Shelly says is the fastest that’s ever been recorded in a internationally certified race by someone her age.

Huffington Post reports that this is Keeling’s first Gay Games, and she took up running after two of her sons were killed 30 years ago in drug-related instances.

Her secret to staying in shape?

“Do what you need to do, not what you want to do and don’t leave out your daily exercise. Love yourself.”

See her in action in the video above.