
Shattering the Age Barrier: How a 5'3" (160cm) "Underdog" is Obliterating World Records at 65 with Jeanette Brits, EP 322
About this episode
Are you worried that your best performances are behind you? Do you ever step up to the blocks—or walk into a room—and feel entirely underestimated because of your age or size? Or worry that your time out of the water will prevent you from success?
This week on Champion's Mojo, we are sitting down with a true generational talent who is completely rewriting the rules of super agers and performance in athletics. Jeannette Brits, a 65-year-old Australian powerhouse, recently did the unthinkable: she shattered the women's 65-69 age division world record in the 800-meter freestyle by almost 30 seconds, clocking a breathtaking sub-10-minute time and also broke the 200 and 400 world records as well.
But Jeannette didn't achieve this by being the tallest, the strongest, or the most naturally gifted swimmer in the water. Standing at 5'3" (160cm) and having taken a massive 30-year hiatus from the sport to raise a family and build a career, Jeannette relies on a ferocious work ethic, a "dog-with-a-bone" racing mentality, and the courage to train daily with a squad of men 15 to 20 years her junior.
If you've ever felt like the deck is stacked against you, or if you are looking for the motivation to finally make your own comeback, Jeannette’s story is the ultimate blueprint for relentless endurance.
In this episode, we dive into:
- The Comeback Blueprint: How to successfully and safely return to high-level training after decades away from your sport.
- Using Doubt as Fuel: The exact mental framework Jeannette uses when competitors judge a book by its cover and expect her to go to the back of the lane.
- Outworking the Advantage: How to overcome a lack of natural height or physical leverage through sheer grit, technical focus, and brutal consistency.
- The HRT Conversation: Jeannette's candid reality on achieving world-dominating endurance without Hormone Replacement Therapy.
- Balancing the Grind: How mixing grueling 27km pool weeks with joyful, soul-filling ocean swims keeps injuries and burnout at bay.
Tune in to discover why it's never too late to get back in the water, toughen up, and completely surprise yourself.
If you loved this episode, please consider leaving us a five-star review on Apple Podcasts— more masters swimmers can find the show.
Email us at [email protected]. Opinions discussed are not medical advice, please seek a medical professional for your own health concerns.
You can learn more about the Host and Founder of Champions Mojo at www.KellyPalace.com
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