Even though she came in last place during her event, Ida Keeling is quite possibly the biggest winner from this year’s Gay Games!
The event is organized by and for LGBT individuals but not all who compete are gay. The 99-year-old great-grandmother participated in the 100-meter race and clocked in a time of 59.8 seconds! It├óΓé¼Γäós believed that no other woman has ever recorded a faster time for her age group! Which isn’t too shabby for a woman who started running when she was already 67!
The native New Yorker traveled to Akron, OH, this week with her daughter, Shelley, so that she could show the world that ANYTHING is possible if you believe in yourself!
Ida lost her husband to a heart attack at the age of 42. She also had two sons killed in drug-related crimes more than 30 years ago. After suffering so much sadness, her daughter, who coaches high school track, recommended her mom give running a try.
She did. And she hasn’t stopped running since!
Ida explained:
“It felt good, and I felt uplifted. I said, ‘Well, gee, this is for me!├óΓé¼Γäó”
She has no plans on slowing down either. Her goal now is to outlive her grandmother, who lived to be 104!
You go, gurl!
Watch video of Ida crossing the finish line (below)!
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