After all, Olympic golden girl Nadia Comaneci was just 14 when she swept all before her in winning gold medals at Montreal in 1976.
But age does not matter for Ella Harrison.
She may be 70 but she is still swinging through the bars and running towards the vault.
Harrison was competing in the Masters Games gymnastics yesterday and having a lot of fun.
"You’re never too old to compete. It’s still a lot of fun. The uneven bars are probably my favourite," she said.
"I have been doing a bit of training in the lead-up, over the holidays, and I’ve been in a few other competitions down here."
Harrison, of Rangiora, had been involved in the sport for more than 50 years. She said she had a congenital heart defect which had had an impact on her performance. She has to be careful when doing her floor exercise, to ensure it does not put too much stress on her heart.
It was a family affair for Harrison with her daughter Ingrid Harrison also competing. She had no plans to give the sport away and she loved coaching younger gymnasts.
