#ComeCheckThis: Meet 94YO Bhagwani Devi and Two Other Incredible Sportswomen Over the Age of 60

The phrase ‘age is just a number’ is one of the biggest clichés there can ever be. However, if you think about it, there come moments in life that can only be described using clichés. It’s not only warranted but needed to fully capture the sentiment. We’re living through a moment just like that one. 

We’ve rounded up three sportswomen over 60 who have proved that age has nothing to do with following your passion or embarking on adventures. While we (people in our 20s and 30s) struggle and complain about leg days at the gym, women over the age of 60 (some are way, way over) are achieving goals that we can’t even dream of. We’ve rounded up three such inspirational women. Meet Bhagwani Devi (the 94-year-old sprinter), Bachendari Pal (the 68-year-old mountaineer) and Rut Linnéa Ingegärd Larsson (103-year-old skydiver) 

The astounding achievements of these women beg the question- what is your excuse? 

Bhagwani Devi 
Earlier this month, Bhagwani Devi Dagar, a 94-year-old sprinter from India, bagged the gold for the 100m sprint at the World Masters Athletics Championships held in Tampere, Finland. Which is a global event for the sport of athletics and track for all sportswomen and sportsmen over the age of 35. 

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Bhagwani Devi clocked 24.74 seconds in the 100m run. If that wasn’t enough for our entire nation to be immensely proud of her, she also won the bronze in shot put. This incredible feat is an inspiration to us all to never give up on our dreams!  

Bachendari Pal 
In 1984, Bachendari Pal became the first Indian woman to summit Mt. Everest just a day before her 30th birthday. It was an achievement for the ages and it’s every mountaineer’s ultimate dream. However, her journey was just beginning. Over the years, Bachendari has led numerous women’s groups on various treks. However, none of them were as special as the one she undertook earlier this year. 

Bhandari, 68, led a group of 12 women (all over the age of 50 and five over the age of 64) on a trans-Himalayan expedition. The team crossed tricky terrains, battled extreme weather and summited around 37 peaks from Arunachal to Ladhak. We’ll give you a minute to lift your jaw off the floor. Talk about an adventure of a lifetime! 

Rut Linnéa Ingegärd Larsson 
On 29th May, 103-year-old Rut Linnéa Ingegärd Larsson from Sweden became the oldest parachutist in the world. Her beyond incredible feat was recognized by the Guinness World Records. Rut broke the record for the oldest tandem parachute jump (female). 

She found her passion for skydiving and parachuting when she turned 90. That birthday she tried paragliding for the first time which paved the way for a larger dream. Rut wanted to walk amongst the clouds and become the oldest woman in the world to perform a parachute jump. She not only fulfilled her goal but since then she has only embarked on more adventures. 

Rut is proof that it’s never too late to follow your passion