Fit in OUR 80s!

Meet the inspiring women still lacing up their trainers in their ninth decade

- ALI HORSFALL

Staying active in later life supports your physical health, independence and confidence but, equally as important, doing exercise can bring connection, purpose and pleasure. Do you need some inspiration to get moving? Helen and Myra prove that keeping fit – and having fun while you’re doing it – is possible no matter what your age.

'I want to win!'

Helen Marlow, 80, from Buckinghamshire, played padel for the first time last year and now can't get enough of the game.

I've always enjoyed sport, particularly anything that involves a racket. As a child, my brother and I would make do with whatever space we had - playing in the road or hitting a ball against a wall. We even sneaked on to local tennis courts to play because our parents wouldn't let us join a club.

Life became busy when I had my four children, so exercise took a back seat for years. It wasn’t until my early 40s that I returned to it. My daughter became an aerobics instructor and persuaded me to join her classes. I was convinced she was trying to kill me, but it did get me moving! I've never enjoyed gyms though. I find them dull. What I love is competitive sport – I always want to win!

I took up tennis properly in my mid-40s and have played ever since. I'm now 80 and I’m still on the court. I've even had a knee replacement, which could have been the end of it for some people, but with physiotherapy and determination, I was back playing within a few months. I can run around now without pain, which is amazing.