Wendy Alexis, a 70-year-old woman from Ottawa, has set new records this year by running the 100 meters in just 14.64 seconds in the women’s 70-year-old category at the 2025 Ottawa Summer Twilight #8 meet held in June. This achievement has made her the fastest 70-year-old female runner globally. Alexis, a mother of two with two grandchildren and one more on the way, enjoys competing against others and setting records, finding a sense of freedom in running.
Alexis, who used to be a teacher, started running at the age of eight and was once an Olympic hopeful until a career-altering injury at 19 forced her to give up running. After nearly 30 years, she made a comeback to the track after being encouraged by her grandson at a local meet, and she hasn’t looked back since.
30-Year Comeback Journey
For the past 20 years, Alexis has been participating in track events worldwide, competing against athletes of various ages. She even joined an all-men’s relay team at the World Masters Championships in Torino in 2013, narrowly missing out on a medal but coming close to breaking a Canadian record. Alexis dedicates around 25 hours a week to track training, weight training, and pool workouts to maintain her speed and muscle mass.
Despite her age, Alexis continues to push boundaries in track and field, driven by her passion for running and the supportive community around her. She encourages others not to let age hinder their dreams and believes that with determination and modifications, anything is possible.
Ultimately, for Alexis, running is not just a sport but a lifelong love and a second chance to fulfill her athletic potential. She plans to continue running for as long as she can, aiming to defy the limitations of age and inspire others to pursue their passions.
