73-Year-Old on the CrossFit Games Open: “I'm Doing It This Year!”

Nancy Hoshaw survived a heart attack at 48 and breast cancer at 60. At 73, she’s entering the CrossFit Games Open, which kicked off Feb. 25. While some compete to be named Fittest on Earth, Hoshaw is competing with time and age-and she’s winning.
After seeing decrepit women on a trip to Israel, Hoshaw decided a slow slide into a retirement home wasn’t for her.
“My goal is to stay healthy and independent. I cherish my independence,” she says.
Her coach at CrossFit Bay Area in Webster, Texas, is two-time CrossFit Games athlete Jordan Cook. Cook describes CrossFit as a lifestyle, noting how the community keeps people active and energized while they preserve and improve function.
“The whole point of … functional fitness is not just to get better at fitness but to help us in our everyday life,” Cook explains.
While Hoshaw was dead set against doing the Open last year, she’s all in for 2016. When Cook shared an Instagram video of Hoshaw preparing for the five-week competition about a month ago, she inspired people around the world and found more motivation herself.
“I feel like I can encourage other people, but at the same time I’m encouraged myself,” she says.
“It’s amazing the doors that you can open if you just … give it a try.”
Video by Elliot and Lindsay Schrock.
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[@blairharris9562]

This is so inspirational! I'm taking my 73 year old aunt to CrossFit tomorrow.

[@BobBob-uv9fq]

Did she want to go

[@blairharris9562]

@@BobBob-uv9fq yes, she's 76 now and still going regularly

[@Zansaldo1]

I love these videos. I have more fun helping people like her more so than helping fit people be fitter.

[@joycedist]

Great to see!! Our daughter and husband have been our crossfit trainers for this last year now. We are 67 and 69 . And we totally believe it's a necessary part of our life to get more fit so we can function better in our everyday lives .

[@zappullaitaly]

hi Nancy! I am 46 from Italy a nd cannot agree with your ideas and lifestyle more! I have woken up a 4,50 each individual morning for the last 13 years to do my cardio and would never skip that. In the shift of work, every day i do strenght training and my goals are exactly like yours. Keep it up! You are an inspiration for all!

[@blulouwoohoo2272]

So impressed and happy for you. I started Crossfit four months ago and my mum who just turned 65 came to visit me from Ireland 2 months ago and started it too !! She loves it and here mobility has massively increased. Can't recommend it enough. Go Nancy !!

[@nnomail]

Nancy you are a real role model. Thank you so much! Best wishes from Germany.

[@kmsgero]

This is a wonderful message. Way to go.

[@idkimfrmpl2562]

crossfit is not about being the best but to do your best ;)

[@InvestorAcademyPodca]

Amazing, makes me so happy that I have the physical capacity to even finish something like 16.1 much less be competitive. At 42, I am still on the uphill portion of my fitness level.

[@drivenblack77]

She reminds me an awful lot of my own mom! No quit at all! Just gotta love it and respect it!

[@carlosgarriga9194]

Very inspirational.Keep it up Nancy.

[@BobBob-uv9fq]

He nailed it ,my fitness regime helps me in real life ,probably will mean I can keep working well into my 60 s ,and enjoy it not feeling tired and still being motivated

[@Vahvafitness]

Love it. Reminds me of the 90-year-old woman who was doing intense gymnastics a couple of years ago.

[@Kerrkerrkerr]

Go Nancy! Your an inspiration

[@DanielleMalkinNinja]

You go, Nancy!

[@Tuberted]

Nancy, I can't tell you how much stories like this inspire people like me.

[@janeavila8674]

I think that she will do amazing, I hope to have that kind of motivation at her age. There are some people in their twenties that wouldn't even imagine themselves training like she is.

[@nandspeartree7263]

Bless you. Such courage. You've got to get out there.

[@naginashereen8110]

Fantastic woman she is doing a great job ....I m also 52 nd join a gym doing different exercises weight lifting etc with a trainer for one hour and then I separately go for cardio for 45 minutes nd feel very strength in my body to do different workouts nd I m on clean diet including vegetable soups salads fruits nd grilled fish meat etc I don't want to depends on others like Nancy nd want to make my life stress free strong nd independent

[@dankleffmann2473]

I like that! Don't ever quit, Nancy!

[@Hozho2010]

Truly inspirational!!!!!.....I'm starting all over again myself..........this time I am going to not ever stop again.........even if it means I have to do traveling WOD's at home! :)........just want to be strong and happy and be able to do the things I love and that is everything to do with the outside........LOL......need to do a memorial hike for one of my USMC buddies and I want to be able to do it and be good with it............Nancy really ROCKS!!!!!!!

[@canosta-KC]

respect...

[@seangonzales4443]

Such an inspiration

[@yanscafe]

Exercise heals the body

[@frankymendoza3374]

Way to go Nancy keep up the great work!

[@DonWilliams242]

Proof that any and everyone can!

[@horsespiritDK]

And changing your diet,is the most important thing for a long life 100 %plantbased and ofcoz some exercise 💚💪🌱

[@fitevie1196]

Awesome!

[@papermate19]

Im so proud of her keep it up ^_^

[@Kittlyn]

I feel so bad about myself in such moments... when i was 19 years old i got 2 herniated discs when i lifted 6kg! What a shame... hard to not give up when it hurts so bad for 3 years already. This woman is very inspiring for me tho

[@jasminejass7092]

I am sorry to hear that. I know it's tough when sometimes our bodies gives up, but as long as our minds are strong, we can overcome anything. I am dealing with some injuries myself right now, and I am going to take it easy until my doctor gives the ok and then I am going to be the beast I used to be! Hope you will do the same!

[@boxing76ful]

She reminds of my grandmother. she used be up every morning at 5am, to sweep the porch and sidewalk with a 5gallon bucket of water.

[@kclarke2971]

Go Nancy !!!!!

[@zsmm1972]

Crossfit rocks.

[@johnsalazar6239]

that is dedication

[@rameshparthasarathy2461]

she is the witness for will power !!!

[@sebastianm6564]

un ejemplo a seguir :)

[@nepzraaz]

Go Nancy... :)

[@jetsarethebestintown]

ella tiene la motivación y el liderazgo estupendamente genial. quiero que sea mi abuela:)

[@Eve.lyn.Sanchez]

Queen

[@ThePEDALES2]

yuo go nancy

[@1985jrinehart]

inspired!!!

[@JC-wm5vq]

Awsome. G9D BLESS

[@teresaanthony9987]

What is the long bar

[@befana001]

Nice 👍

[@flashgordon6510]

Can we talk about that guy's beautiful eyes?

[@jassyplayz1597]

what age can you start CrossFit

[@janeavila8674]

it depends on what type of programs the box has, if they have a crossfit kids class then since age 8-12 I think (not sure ) but for the regular classes in my box the age minimum is 13. Hope it helped :D

[@denn1301]

My brother startes doing crossfit since he is 14

[@jeanettelipman]

wow

[@mauricemayfield73]

💪💪👍👍

[@johnganshow5536]

It's sad that most people are so sedentary and have poor diets, what do they think the outcome will be? Or maybe they don't care about themselves? Anyhow, I'm glad I don't think like they do...

[@bigdog2989]

A broken hip and it's over. Not good on your joints

[@sashadieken1]

My husband fell on the ice and broke his hip, at age 85. That was 3 years ago and he's fully recovered and still going strong. It's not over.