At 96 years old, Jean Stewart has a simple yet powerful philosophy: she likes to do things for herself. This drive led her to take up CrossFit training at the age of 81, embarking on a 15-year fitness journey that has defied conventional expectations about ageing and strength.
From Frustration to Fitness: An 81-Year-Old's Decision
Jean Stewart's active youth, filled with hockey and softball, gave way to frustration in her later years. Everyday tasks became a struggle. "I got to the point where I didn't have the strength to prune my roses," she recalls. Tired of her growing frailty and the perception from others that she was incapable, she decided to take action. After reading about a local CrossFit gym, she approached owner Cheryl Cohen for help. At the time, Stewart was Cohen's only client over the age of 60.
Her initial sessions were designed to support her daily life, focusing on movements like getting up from the ground and walking while carrying weights. The training was progressive, with weights increasing gradually each time. Soon, Stewart was performing full-body press-ups alongside women a decade younger and could hold a plank long enough for a fellow gym member to tell a two-minute story. By the age of 83, she achieved a remarkable personal milestone: a 70kg deadlift.
Overcoming Setbacks with Stubborn Resilience
Stewart's impressive progress faced severe challenges. In her 90s, she contracted MRSA and was involved in a serious car accident that left her needing two months of rehabilitation after losing feeling in her feet and lower legs. Further setbacks followed, including a fall while walking her dog and a broken hip at 91 that required surgery. Her response to each hurdle was unwavering. "I continued with exercise and got the strength back," Stewart states, attributing her perseverance to a simple trait: "I'm stubborn."
A Lifeline of Strength and Independence
Today, Jean Stewart continues to train twice a week at the Desert Fitness Collective in Palm Springs. While spinal stenosis prevents her from deadlifting, her routine includes elevated push-ups, kettlebell squats, and pushing a weight-loaded sledge. "The older I get, the more I tell myself I've got to keep going," she affirms.
The practical benefits of her dedication are clear. She can once again prune her plants, rise easily from a chair, and has the strength to help herself up if she falls. Her trainer, Cheryl Cohen, now specialises in classes for older adults, inspired by Stewart's journey. Cohen fondly recalls Stewart refusing help with a heavy pail of cat litter at a store, insisting on carrying it herself.
Stewart is evangelical about the transformative power of exercise, especially for friends who believe they are too old to start. Her message to younger people who claim to be too busy is straightforward: "Make time. Do what you need to do to live longer." For Jean Stewart, the conclusion is unequivocal: "Without strength training I wouldn't be alive." Her story stands as a powerful testament to the possibility of maintaining strength, independence, and vitality deep into one's tenth decade.
