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Ginny MacColl never played a competitive sport until her 60s.

I was inspired by my daughter,Jessie Graffwhos been onAmerican Ninja Warriorfor 10 seasons now, MacColl says.

Now 71,MacCollrecentlyset a Guinness World Recordas the worlds oldest competitive ninja athlete who is a woman.

woman sweating in the gym

oldest competitive female ninja athlete

Its never too late to start, she tells Well+Good with a confident smile on her face.

There are people in their 80s and 90s that are finding great abilities in strength training justusing resistance bands.

You have to believe in yourself and what you could do, MacColl adds.

Woman walking on a treadmill at the gym.

The mental component, I think, is one of the hardest things in all of this.

But you want to find your passion, commit to it, and make it a habit.

Moving parts dont rust, she says.

Full body female athlete in sportswear using rowing machine during fitness workout in gym.

Balance work is so hard and so important for our quality of life, says MacColl.

Taking up a regular yoga practice has helped combat that.

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Strength training

MacColl breaks up her strength training between push workouts (i.e.

Happy woman dancing and listening to music near a green empty wall outdoor in the city.

And shes careful not to neglect leg workouts.

I cant say Ilikesquats, but I do them, she says, laughing.

I work on jumps and lunges for explosive power.

Healthy female training in the gym, performing a hip thrust.

Ill also go up and down the stairs or hop on the elliptical, she says.

I like to change it up.

I cant say Ilikesquats, but I do them.

A young black woman doing post-run stretches in the park on the road amidst green grass and trees.

Ginny MacColl

Cardio

MacColl does cardio workouts four times a week, typically by swimming.

Ill swim with a club and a coach, she says.

(In fact, the morning of our interview, MacColl was at her swim club.)

She also swims competitively at theNational Senior Games.

This series, she says, has her dying by the end of the workout.

Heres how she does it:

1.

You simultaneously reach your arms and your legs toward each other, MacColl instructs.

Go right into a flutter kick for 30 seconds.

(Read: Dont lie down.)

Then, bring your knees toward your forehead.

Doscissor kicksfor 30 seconds.To do a scissor kick, bring your knees up and keep them slightly bent.

Kick them up slower and higher than you did in the flutter kick.

Dont stop her now

So whats next for MacColl?

Netting a Guinness World Record has only given her even more motivation to keep at it.

Im going to have to keep going so I can ensure nobody else beats it.

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