Natalie Grabow has always been chasing challenges, but this month, the 80-year-old grandmother from Mountain Lakes, New Jersey, sprinted, pedaled, and swam her way into history. She became the oldest woman ever to finish the grueling Ironman World Championship triathlon in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii.
It wasn’t easy. Natalie swam 2.4 miles, even though she didn’t learn to swim until she was nearly 60, cycled 112 miles under the Hawaiian sun, and then ran a full 26.2-mile marathon. About 60 other competitors quit before finishing, but Natalie didn’t stop.
“She’s truly gritty,” her coach, Michelle Lake, told NPR. “Natalie is the definition of grit and gratitude: Grateful to make it to the start line, grateful to get to do something she loves every day, and grateful to inspire so many others.”
Natalie’s drive wasn’t born overnight. Growing up in New Jersey long before Title IX opened doors for female athletes, she watched the boys compete while she cheered from the sidelines. “When you grow up and you don’t have those options, you know, you just watch the boys doing stuff and you’re just the cheerleader,” she told The Athletic. “It was just thrilling once I could do my first 5K and race and ride a bike with other people.”
As an adult, she worked as a software developer, played doubles tennis, and found a love for running that became a cornerstone of her life. She ran several times a week, built friendships, and slowly got pulled into triathlons. But swimming remained a hurdle. Determined, she dove into her local YMCA pool, teaching herself strokes with friends, books, and videos.
Years of dedication paid off. Twenty years ago, she completed her first half Ironman. Later, she graduated to the full-length version. This past month, in Hawaii, Natalie conquered the full Ironman course, from the waves of Kailua Bay to the heat-soaked bike paths, and the marathon that climbed over 1,000 feet.
Crossing the finish line in 16 hours, 45 minutes, and 26 seconds, Natalie cemented her place in Ironman history. “Absolutely incredible,” the PA announcer declared to the cheering crowd.
She isn’t slowing down. Natalie has already signed up for two Ironman races in 2026, and she might even go for the record set by Hiromu Inada, who finished the Ironman at 85.
“The important thing is that people see from my story that they can maybe push themselves a little bit, they can do a little more than they thought they could do,” she said. “They can keep going longer than they thought they could go.”
- One Man With Kind Words and Meta Glasses Is Quietly Turning Toronto Commutes Into Moments of Human Connection - January 20, 2026
- Wiggly Butts And Happy Hearts As Jacksonville Animal Shelter Lets Dogs Choose Their Humans In Real Life Moment - January 20, 2026
- A Love That Lasts Forever Inside a Hospital Chapel A 31 Year Old Connecticut Woman Marries Her Soulmate Surrounded By Love - January 20, 2026
