Dressage rider Mary Hanna entered Australian sporting history this week, overtaking the record set by equestrian rider and five-time Olympian Bill Roycroft back in 1976.
Rio is also represents her fifth Olympics, with Mary first competing for Australia at the 1996 Atlanta Games – and she’s not making plans to retire yet.
Age no barrier
The grandmother of three is already looking ahead to the 2020 Games in Tokyo where she hopes to compete alongside one of her daughters.
Speaking to the ABC Online, she said: “Every time I have done the Olympics, I’ve thought this is probably the last time I will do it but, after the last time, I thought: I am going to keep going with this because I feel fit and healthy and why shouldn’t I? So, here I am.”
She’s not the only older athlete competing at this year’s Games either. Her teammate Sue Hearn, who is 60, became Australia’s second-oldest first-time Olympian.
New Zealander Julie Brougham also made her Olympic debut at the age of 62 in the dressage, while her fellow equestrian Mark Todd, 60, just chalked up his seventh Olympics.
Proof you’re never too old to live out your dreams?
