93-Year-Old Sprinter Defies Aging With Near-Youthful Fitness
Almost 93, Emma Mazzenga’s elite sprinting performance is accompanied by aerobic capacity and neuromuscular health that resemble those of active younger adults, as researchers compare her metrics to younger athletes to understand what aspects of aging can be slowed by training. While she shows age-related leg mass loss and some fast-twitch fiber atrophy, her mitochondria function well and nerve connections are largely preserved. Her regimen—brief, high-intensity sprint workouts three times a week plus daily walking and light resistance—offers clues about the potential for exercise to slow aging, though many questions remain about training type, genetics, and diet as scientists repeat tests to track changes from age 91 to 93.
