Iron Granny

At 65, Louise “Iron Granny” McGonigal is not letting her age slow her down. The two time half-Ironman champion competed at the Ford Ironman USA in Lake Placid, New York, in July, placing first and setting a course record in her age group. McGonigal (MEd 1986 OISE) said torrential rain made for a gruelling race, especially the last segment – a marathon. (Triathlons have three components: swimming, cycling and running.) The former teacher trains 12 hours a week and teaches Pilates at the YMCA near her home in Orillia, Ontario. This summer, she entered several races to gear up for the half-Ironman race in Clear water, Florida, in November, where she’s gunning for her third straight win. Not surprisingly, McGonigal has no plans to settle quietly into retirement. “Training for triathlons is a big part of my lifestyle.”