Julia “Hurricane” Hawkins won two gold medals at the 2019 Senior Games, which are being held in Albuquerque, New Mexico, right now. The 103-year-old won gold in the 50-meter dash and the 100-meter dash, but she didn’t beat her world record from 2017 in the 100-meter dash.
The “Hurricane” began her competitive career by riding a bike. When she turned 100, she switched to running. The Senior National Games Association says that she is the oldest woman to compete in the United States. She is 103 years old.
She doesn’t let her age stop her, though, and she was recently on Good Morning America to talk about how she stays fit as she gets older. She said that in Louisiana, she mostly watches what she eats and works in her garden to get a little exercise.
She agrees that her long life is a miracle, saying, “When you’re 103, every day is a miracle. I keep getting up and coming back here.” She is a mother of four, a grandmother of three, and a great-grandmother of three. She has an amazing life.
She told the Today Show about her life as the wife of a physics professor at Louisiana State University, with whom she built a house right after World War II that she still lives in today.
She said on the Today Show that she hopes to be an example for older people to keep moving and do things that they are interested in. She told GMA, “I’m glad I won two gold medals. It’s amazing that I can do this.” We also think it’s very impressive, and we’re happy for Julia’s big wins.