Home > Fit City > Archives > 2010 > September > 08 > Entry
Austin’s Jody Kelly takes gold in Aquathlon World Championship
UPDATE: Jody Kelly added a bronze medal to her gold medal. She finished third in the Female 70-74 age group of the ITU Age Group Sprint World Championship in soggy conditions along the Danube River. Her finishing time was 2 hours, 27 minutes and 30 seconds.
“I’m afraid my sights have been raised and perhaps a monster created because I want to train for greater speed and then find a way to go to Worlds again some day,” she said after returning to Austin.
Austin fitness trainer Jody Kelly, racing for Team USA, won a gold medal today at the ITU Aquathlon World Championships in Budapest, Hungary.
The 72-year-old grandmother, who earlier this year became the oldest contestant ever on The Amazing Race, finished in 1 hour, 7 minutes and 10 seconds.
Skies were gray and temperatures cool for the event, which was shortened to a 1,000-meter wetsuit swim followed by a 2.5-kilometer run, instead of a pair of 2.5K runs on either side of the swim, according to a press release from USA Triathlon.
Kelly was one of three Americans to take gold in the competition. The others were Susan Griffin-Kaklikian of Castle Rock, Colo., who won the female 55-59 age group, and Robben, of Berkeley, Calif., who won the 75-79 age group.
Kelly, who describes herself as a recovering couch potato, has a late blooming background in fitness. She took up weight training when she was 58 and later became a personal trainer who specializes in working with elderly clients through her business, Strengthmobile. Her oldest client was 100 years old.
Kelly entered her first triathlon in August 2007 and has done 14 more since then, including one alongside both her daughter and granddaughter.
“Once I discovered my body, I wanted to use it,” she has said.
I had lunch with Jody last week, a few days before she departed for Hungary. (She cooked me an excellent bowl of Irish stew!)
She was a little nervous, but mostly excited to race.
Way to go Jody!
She’ll race again Saturday, this time in the Sprint World Championships.
(That’s Jody, above, with her granddaughter and daughter. Photo by Ricardo B. Brazziell.)
Permalink | Comments (4) | Post your comment Categories: Triathlon
Comments
Austinites love to be heard, and we're giving you a bullhorn. We just ask that you keep things civil. Leave out the personal attacks. Do not use profanity, ethnic or racial slurs, or take shots at anyone's sexual orientation or religion. If you can't be nice, we reserve the right to remove your material and ban users who violate our Visitor's agreement. Click here to report comment abuse.
By Tracy Nelson
September 8, 2010 3:48 PM | Link to this
I am Jody’s coach (through Tri Zones Training), and we are all so proud of her!!
Jody is such a fabulous inspiration — if she can go from couch potato at 69 to world champion at 72, anyone of any age or ability can become more fit.
And she got gold in her “warm up” race… the big race for her is on Saturday. Good luck at the Sprint World Championships, Jody!!
By John Tuggle
September 8, 2010 5:28 PM | Link to this
Jody is an inspiration to all. I am amazed every time I see her at a race or TriZone event. I am so excited for her. Way to show people that you can fight again!!!
By Annette Kobus
September 8, 2010 6:02 PM | Link to this
very nice article! Jody continues to lead by example. We (training friends) are all so happy for her win today and will be cheering from afar on Saturday.
Thanks Jody, for removing all those excuses -and showing us how to be fit and fabulous at any age!
By mrun
September 10, 2010 2:00 PM | Link to this
I love it! “Once I discovered my body, I wanted to use it.” Way to go, Jody!