(Reuters) -Natalie Grabow proved that age really is just a number when the 80-year-old became the oldest woman ever to complete the gruelling Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii on Saturday.

The American age-grouper completed the 3.8 km swim, 180 km bike ride and 42 km run in 16 hours, 45 minutes and 26 seconds, winning the F80-84 division in her 10th start at the iconic Hawaii event.

Grabow, from New Jersey, discovered triathlon in her 60s after years of running and qualified for this year’s World Championship with a time of 15 hours and 53 minutes at Ironman Maryland, becoming the first woman to complete that race in the 75–79 category.

“All of us in sport are competitive and want to do well, but it’s the journey that matters,” Grabow said ahead of the Kona race.

“If you’re an

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