Woman celebrates 85th birthday with 85 triathlons

Daphne Belt said she hoped her achievement would motivate others to - as her Instagram hashtag said - #keeponkeepingon

A woman from Littlehampton, West Sussex has proved age really is just a number - by doing 85 triathlons to celebrate her 85th birthday.

While her friends might settle for a nice afternoon tea, Daphne Belt decided to run, cycle and swim her way to her special day.

Spurred on by her husband/coach Stephen, she managed an impressive 1615km (1000 miles) of swimming, 1700km (1056 miles) of cycling and 255km (158 miles) of running - a total distance of 3570km (2218 miles).

She capped it all with the Ironman 70.3 in Venice and winning the European Sprint Distance Triathlon Championships in Vichy, France - as the only competitor in her age category.

Mrs Belt said she enjoys training near her home in Littlehampton, West Sussex

Speaking to BBC Radio Sussex on Wednesday morning, retired business owner Mrs Belt said she only started doing triathlons at the age of 50.

"I was a fit child, I danced all through my childhood and I was always reasonably fit, but triathlon didn’t start until I was 50," she said.

But she has made up for lost time, doing three triathlons a week from January until her birthday on 14 August - with her mascot teddy bear Placido by her side.

“I started on 31 January and did three a week and ended up on my birthday, which was good planning by my husband/coach," she said.

“It has been an effort - towards the end I did get tired. It was fun, I enjoyed every moment of it actually."

Her challenge also raised £3,655 for Prostate Cancer UK, after her husband Stephen had a "sudden health scare" last year.

Mrs Belt hopes her challenge will motivate others to get moving.

"That’s the secret - it’s not sitting and gazing out of the window, wishing," she added.

After 85 triathlons and competing in Venice and Vichy, mascot teddy bear Placido needed a rest and a wash

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