Editor’s Note: Charlie Futrell died in August 2012 at the age of 91. At the time of his death, he was considered the oldest competing triathlete. We conducted the following interview in 2006 when Charlie was “only” 85. He went on to complete several other triathlons in the following years, and in February 2011, he officially became the oldest person to finish a USA
Triathlon-sanctioned race with a time of 2 hours, 19 minutes and 38
seconds, according to the Orlando Sentinel. Learn more about his extraordinary life his obituary.

Charlie Futrell is an 85-year-old superman.

He is a 16-time Triathlon Magazine All-American and is one of the only 85-year-old triathletes in the world.

He spoke to Growing Bolder about his daily two-hour workouts and what he thinks are the secrets to longevity.

Charlie shares why it’s so important to always have a goal in sight. He also proves that it’s never too late — he didn’t compete in his first triathlon until he was 70.

“It’s never too late to get started,” Charlie told us. “Some of the greatest things in life have been done by people who are over 80 and maybe 90. You’ve just got to get out there and stick with it.”