Anne Abernathy is the oldest woman to compete in the Winter Olympics. Below is a reprint of an article about her before her run in the 2006 Torino Olympics.
Anne Abernathy, the oldest woman ever to compete in the Winter Olympics, is revving up for 2006 in Torino, Italy. As a luge racer, she rockets feet first down a twisting ice chute on a narrow sled without brakes, using just her body to steer. When you hit a wall at 90 miles and hour, it hurts, says the five-foot-five-inch, 162 blond, whose fans often chant "Go, go, Grandma" as she whizzes by.
At 51, Abernathy has competed in five Olympics. A former singer, she represents the U.S. Virgin Islands, where she lives. There’s no ice rink there, so I train in other places, Abernathy says. Despite broken bones, a battle with cancer, and 12 knee surgeries, Abernathy remains committed to her sport. If there is one thing I would wish for everyone, she says, it’s that they have one true passion in life. - Megan Rosenfeld
Reprinted courtesy: AARP September & October 2004
Check out Anne's site at www.GrandmaLuge.com and make a donation!
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