There Is No Off-Season in Life... 89-Year-Old World's Oldest Skiing Grandma [Nihonjin Side]

Active Cross-Country Skier Saeki Katsumi
Born in 1935... 70 Years of Skiing Experience
Goal to Break Guinness Record... Preparing to Complete Race in His 90s

I also really enjoy exercising, but when I think about whether I’ll be able to work out as intensely as I do now when I become a grandmother, I can’t help but worry. Recently, in Japan, the story of the world’s oldest female cross-country skier, who is 89 years old, was reported in the media and attracted attention. She plans to participate in competitions even at 90 next year, aiming to break a Guinness World Record. Her life itself is known to be one of relentless effort, with no off-season, which made her story even more remarkable. Today, I will share the story of 89-year-old active cross-country skier, Saeki Katsumi.

Mr. Saeki Katsumi, who participated in the competition in January this year. Photo by TBS.

Ms. Saeki was born in 1935 and is an active athlete affiliated with Toyama FSC in Japan. She is also officially registered with the Japan Ski Association. Saeki is from Toyama Prefecture, known as the Japanese Alps. About 70 years ago, when she was a student at Toyama University, she joined the ski club and started alpine skiing seriously, continuing it to this day. She is an athlete with an incredible amount of experience. She originally loved mountains and enjoyed alpine skiing in Tateyama, Toyama Prefecture. She always starts her ski season in Tateyama every year. Later, while working as a school teacher, she continued to enjoy hiking and skiing. At age 26, she became the first female ski assistant instructor in Toyama Prefecture. Loving skiing so much, when she retired at 60, she thought, “Alpine skiing is physically demanding. I can’t afford to get injured now,” and changed her discipline to cross-country skiing upon the recommendation of those around her.

Profile of Saeki registered with the Japan Ski Association. Japan Ski Association.

Even after switching disciplines, cross-country skiing is a sport that consumes tremendous stamina, often called the “marathon on snow.” The most important thing for skiing is to build a body that can move without getting tired for a long time. During winters with heavy snowfall, she reportedly puts on skis and takes hour-long walks around the snow-covered rice fields near her home. When there is no snow, she trains even harder. She trains five days a week at a gym with a personal trainer. I saw footage of her training reported in the media, and at 89 years old, she was doing squats with 35 kg weights. Considering the decline in muscle strength with age, that is truly an incredible lower body strength. In spring and summer, she runs 6 km while timing herself. She says, “Although stamina inevitably decreases with age, it is important to maintain a body capable of skiing,” and she endures rigorous training every time.

At age 70, she set a record by crossing the frozen Tatar Strait on cross-country skis, and to this day, she has participated in the All Japan Masters Ski Championships more than 20 times. She became so famous that the Japan Winter Masters Sports Association applied for her Guinness record as the oldest athlete. In fact, after turning 80, even though competitions are divided by age groups, there are almost no active athletes competing. Her rival, who was once considered her competitor, stopped appearing in competitions after passing 80. Therefore, Saeki says, “Even if I ski today, I won’t know if I can ski tomorrow until I wake up the next morning,” showing how much effort she puts into her athletic career. When she participates in competitions, she easily posts times that surpass those of athletes in their 70s.

Mr. Saeki training at the gym. TBS.

Above all, her positive attitude of being grateful to be able to ski every year seems to give off good energy. This year, she faced many difficulties in her athletic career. Before the season started, her condition worsened, and she was urgently hospitalized. On New Year’s Day this year, the Noto Peninsula earthquake struck, causing damage in Toyama Prefecture as well. Additionally, an unprecedented situation occurred with record high temperatures and insufficient snowfall. Despite these many trials, in an interview with TBS, Saeki said, “Life has mountains and valleys,” and “There is a today like yesterday, and a tomorrow like today. I will live each day with gratitude,” pledging to continue training as usual.

Next year, at 90 years old, her goal is to participate again in the All Japan Masters Championships and break the Guinness record. She emphasized the importance of moving her body every day and always eating meals that include protein and vegetables, even when preparing food is difficult. When asked about the secret to her athletic career, Saeki answered cheerfully, “It’s not that I skied well by myself, but thanks to many people I relied on,” and “A lifestyle of enjoying what I can do right now to create a tomorrow like today also played a part.”

Looking back on Saeki’s life, it seems that regardless of age, she has always been followed by challenges, effort, and achievements. Her attitude of always keeping possibilities open so that there is no off-season in life seems to give strength to many others as well.