'You're not young anymore': These two women in their 50s just raced at the Hyrox World Championships

Margaret Lim, 51, and Seah Seow Ping, 54, defied age expectations by competing in the grueling Puma Hyrox World Championships in Stockholm, Sweden. The Singaporean duo tackled the demanding Women's Pro Doubles category for their age group, pushing a 152kg sled and completing an 8km run interspersed with eight challenging workout stations.

Their participation in one of the world's toughest functional fitness races involved significant physical exertion. The women, standing at 157cm and 150cm respectively, also faced a 103kg sled pull, lunges with 20kg sandbags, and 100 repetitions of 6kg wall balls. Notably, the weights used in the Women's Pro division are equivalent to those in the Men's Open category.

Lim and Seah earned their spot at the world championship after securing second place in the AIA Hyrox Singapore 2025 event last November. Competing against participants from diverse global regions, many of whom were significantly younger, the pair sought to challenge stereotypes about what women in their 50s can achieve.

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We had the privilege to compete on this world stage, and we trained incredibly hard for it. We may not be the fastest, the fittest, or the strongest athletes out there, but we didn’t give up.

"We had the privilege to compete on this world stage, and we trained incredibly hard for it. We may not be the fastest, the fittest, or the strongest athletes out there, but we didn’t give up," Lim told CNA Women. Seah added, "I think many women underestimate what they are still capable of in their 50s. I never saw myself as an athlete, so qualifying for the World Championships felt surreal. It reminded me that growth and new possibilities don’t stop with age."

Both women are working mothers who initially focused on "ageing well" and addressing common midlife health concerns. Seah, a marketing consultant, manages a knee problem and metabolic health worries, while Lim, a pilates instructor, was alerted to low bone mass during a routine screening. They met at a functional training gym, embarking on their fitness journey to improve their health and discover their potential beyond conventional expectations.

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I think many women underestimate what they are still capable of in their 50s. I never saw myself as an athlete, so qualifying for the World Championships felt surreal. It reminded me that growth and new possibilities don’t stop with age.