71-year-old woman becomes the oldest female ninja after seeing daughter compete
A 71-year-old woman has become a Guinness World record holder for when she made history as the oldest person to complete an obstacle course on American Ninja Warrior - a popular show where athletes climb, jump, and cross obstacles that no average person could do.
Ginny MacColl began doing the sport after watching her daughter compete on TV. When MacColl was diagnosed with osteopenia, a precursor to osteoporosis, a doctor told her to start weight training, which she did. And then she took it a few steps further. Now, the 71-year-old says her favourite ninja moves include swinging on rings and climbing ropes.
Guinness posted a video of MacColl completing her favourite course activities, climbing, jumping, and swinging. She says she began training around seven years ago, and qualified to be on the show when she was 65. “I fell early on the first obstacle. [It] was just very depressing. I thought I let everybody down and all the fears of doing this came to life,” she said.
World's oldest female ninja: Virginia Lenore MacColl's favourite moves include swinging on rings and climbing ropes (Instagram)“My daughter said, ‘One fall shouldn’t define you. Look how far you’ve come.’ It was true: I had gotten much stronger and able to do so many things. My confidence had grown. I enjoyed doing ninja and competitions," said MacColl.
MacColl had never been an athlete before, but she did dance in her youth. Still, when she started training she admits she hadn't really been physical in 30 years. “I didn’t have upper body strength and I hadn’t danced in 30 years,” MacColl, who lives in North Carolina, told The Post.
Inside quietest room in the world where no one can stay inside for over an hour
“My goal was five pullups. I’m very goal oriented, so I wanted to make an attainable goal and I thought that might [work]. But it took me an entire year to get one.” Once she got to her goal, she set higher ones. Watching her daughter, Jessie Graff, compete on American Ninja Warrior inspired her to start training the same way.
Earning a place as a record holder, MacColl became the oldest female competitor at 70 years and 90 days old (Instagram)Now, the two even train together. “I saw that she had this tremendous grace and strength and power, confidence. She was literally showing little girls that it was cool to be strong,” MacColl said. “But not only little girls — she also inspired the big ones like me. I looked at that and I went, ‘I want to get strong.'”
MacColl and Graff also hold world records for the most consecutive tandem pullups by women, with 14. They also own the title for the greatest distance traversed on crossing hanging rings for a synchronized team, at 144 feet.
“To do these things together is the most fabulous aspect … It bonded us even closer. I mean, we have all sorts of fun,” MacColl said. “She’s kind of excited to give us all these little goals … She’s been the most encouraging person you could ever hope for.”
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