From the racecourses to the open seas and high above the earth, elderly individuals have been demonstrating that you're never too advanced in years to leave your mark on the world or make headlines for unusual achievements.
In honor of these intrepid seniors, here are five stories of remarkable elderly individuals who prove that age is just a number when it comes to blazing new trails and shattering records.
84-year-old skydiver
First in line is an 84-year-old Colorado woman who, after her initial skydiving experience in 1959, is fast approaching her 600th jump with her sights set on reaching 1,000.
Kim Knor, who was a member of the inaugural U.S. Women's Parachute Team in 1962, experienced a 37-year hiatus from skydiving but rekindled her passion for the sport following her husband's passing in 2003.
Knor, who gained recognition in the International Skydiving Museum and Hall of Fame in 2013, has shared skydiving experiences with all her children and grandchildren, even accompanying her youngest grandson on his inaugural jump in August.
This high-flying grandma aspires to set a lifetime record of 1,000 skydives, a milestone that would earn her prestigious gold wings from the United States Parachute Association.
88-year-old windsurfer
Transitioning from the wide skies to the open waters, Piotr Dudek, an 88-year-old Polish windsurfer, is endeavoring to be officially recognized as the oldest practitioner of this sport.
Dudek, who has been windsurfing since 1981, embarked on this mission after learning that the existing record-holder achieved the title at the age of 86 back in 2000.
This spirited senior, affectionately nicknamed "Junior" by fellow windsurfers when he turned 80, adhered to the record's requirements, windsurfing for three consecutive months.
90-year-old bodybuilder
Across the Pacific in California, Jim Arrington, who Guinness World Records acknowledged as the world's oldest bodybuilder in 2015, extended his own record by participating in a competition at the age of 90.
Arrington took part in an event organized by the International Federation of BodyBuilding and Fitness Professional League in Nevada, securing third place in the over-70 category and clinching first place in the over-80 division.
Having lifted weights since the age of 15, Arrington still dedicates approximately 2 hours at the gym three days a week.
98-year-old motorcycle racer
Shifting from pumping iron to racing on two wheels, a New Zealand man competed in a motorcycle race just three weeks before his 98th birthday, securing the title of the world's oldest competitive motorcycle racer.
Guinness World Records recognized Leslie Harris, aged 98, for his participation in the Pukekohe 43rd Classic Motorcycle Festival held in Auckland earlier this year.
Accompanied by his son and granddaughter, Harris took part in the Regularity race, which emphasized consistent lap times, earning him a fourth-place finish.
Harris affirmed his intentions to participate in more events this year and return for the next year's Pukekohe Classic Motorcycle Festival.
88-year-old cross-country skier
Transitioning from motorcycles to pristine snow, Japanese athlete Katsumi Saeki set a new record by participating in the cross-country skiing 2023 Masters World Cup in Austria at the age of 88.
Katsumi Saeki first garnered recognition as the world's oldest female competitive cross-country skier at the Japan Masters Championships when she was 87. Now, at the age of 88, she has outperformed her own feat in Austria.
Saeki not only secured victory but was the sole competitor in the over-85 category.
The determined skier has set her sights on surpassing her own record once more at the February 2024 Masters World Cup in Finland.
