Deidre Larkin is an 85 year old woman that started her running career late in life but recently broke a world record!
Deirdre Larkin is a retired concert pianist and is teaching full time now. She was born missing a vertebrae and was diagnosed with Osteoporosis in 2009 at the age of 77. Refusing to let her body deteriorate she started distance running at the age of 78!
Since her running start in 2009 Deirdre has taken to the sport as if she had done it her whole life! In 2013 she broke her first record for woman over 70 years. She beat the record set by Melitta Czerwenka of Germany by 2 and a half minutes.
Her success lead to a sponsorship from M-Net, MultiChoice, SuperSport and Carte Blanche. Which allowed her to travel to Switzerland to race internationally.
“We’re in the business of telling South African stories and supporting South African talent. In both respects, Deirdre Larkin has motivated people across the country with her astonishing energy and her incredible spirit. We felt that it was only fitting that, as a group of companies, we help her achieve her ambitions. Her success however is all and entirely her own.” – Yolisa Phahle, M-Net CEO
Deirdre ran the Geneva Marathon last week Monday, 8th May 2017, and broke her own record! She ran the race in 2:05:13, breaking her previous record of 2:12:37 for the 85+ World Half Marathon Record.
She is an inspiration to everyone, showing that age is just a number and to live life to it’s fullest.
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