If you ever needed proof that getting older doesn’t mean slowing down, look no further than Jean-Louis Esnault and Wendy Alexis.
These two masters athletes lit up the track at the World Masters Athletics Indoor Championships in Gainesville, Fla., turning in performances that would be impressive at any age—but are downright jaw-dropping given that one is 85 and the other just turned 70.
Jean-Louis Esnault: 85 and a Jack of All Trades
Let’s start with Jean-Louis Esnault.
On Thursday, Esnault ran the 3,000m in 13:39.24, a time that breaks the previous world record for the M85 age group by over two seconds.
That old record? It belonged to Canadian distance legend Ed Whitlock, who’s basically the gold standard in age-defying running.
Then, two days later, he lined up for the 1,500m and did it again. This time, he ran 6:08.47—crushing Whitlock’s previous best of 6:38.87.
That’s around a 4:05 per kilometer pace. At 85.
And those weren’t even his only events. Esnault also took gold in the 60m hurdles, 200m, 400m, and 800m. Oh, and he grabbed silver in the 6,000m.
The man does everything—sprints, mid-distance, long-distance—and he’s winning across the board.
If you’re wondering what his secret is, it’s not some super-strict diet or monk-like training plan.
Esnault lives what he calls a “moderate” lifestyle. He told World Masters Athletics that he enjoys “good meals and alcohol… to some extent.” He’s clearly doing something right.
Esnault’s track record (no pun intended) is full of highlights.
He’s run over 60 marathons and has been a fixture at major masters championships.
In 2022, he celebrated his 50th wedding anniversary with two gold medals in Finland. In 2023, he picked up four more golds at the European Masters in Italy.
Wendy Alexis: Sprinting Sensation at 70
While Esnault was tearing it up on the distance track, Canada’s Wendy Alexis was making headlines in the sprints.
Alexis just turned 70, but because her birthday fell during the meet, she competed in the W65 category. That didn’t stop her from setting two new W70 world records in the 200m—on back-to-back days.
On Thursday, she ran 30.68, breaking the previous W70 record.
Then on Friday, she did one better, clocking a 30.33.
That mark blew past the old world record (31.17) and also shattered Karla Del Grande’s Canadian record (31.18). It’s not often you see an athlete break a world record and then break it again less than 24 hours later.
And she wasn’t done.
Alexis also won gold in the W65 60m, running 8.95 in the final after an 8.98 in the heats. That’s some serious top-end speed.
Alexis’ performances are especially impressive in the context of women’s sprinting at this age group. To put it in perspective, Kathy Bergen—another masters legend—held the W70 100m and 200m records for years, and Alexis is now entering that same elite company.
Masters Athletics: Where Age Becomes an Advantage
Masters track and field doesn’t always get the spotlight, but events like these are changing that.
The World Masters Athletics Indoor Championships bring together athletes aged 35 to 100+ from around the globe. And these aren’t just folks out for a jog—they’re highly competitive, well-trained athletes breaking records and pushing their limits.
The science backs up what we’re seeing on the track.
Studies continue to show that staying active into your later decades leads to better physical and mental health outcomes.
According to research published in the Journal of Nutrition, Health and Aging, lifelong athletes tend to retain muscle mass, cardiovascular fitness, and even brain function well into old age. It’s not just about performance—it’s about quality of life.
Athletes like Esnault and Alexis are walking (or sprinting) proof of that. They’re not anomalies—they’re examples of what’s possible with dedication, smart training, and a deep love for the sport.
