In 2015, an 82-year-old man had fallen to his knees in the final meter before the finish line of the Ironman Competition in Kona, Hawaii. Completely spent, Hiromu Inada was helped across the finish line by sympathetic spectators. It was the harsh reality of the grueling competition and a picture that caught the attention of the world. Inada, who turns 90 this year, has announced that he will try to be the first person aged 90 or older to finish the Ironman competition in Kona, Hawaii. The Guinness Book of World Records has already recognized him as the oldest Ironman World Championship finisher twice, once in 2016 and again in 2018. So, what motivates him to go further? “It’s not like I’m doing it because I’m 90. I’m turning 90 right now, and it’s a goal that seems achievable,” he said. “My body is definitely deteriorating, but I believe it’s still something doable at this point. That’s why I’m going for it.” People from all over the world are cheering him on. Inada began swimming at the age of 60, then started triathlon at 70. His wife died after a long illness, and Inada decided to channel his sorrow by entering the triathlon competition. At the pinnacle of the 90s, this insatiable sense of inquiry and the joy of still being able to find ways to improve remains Inada’s primary driving force.
