Seven World Records for 97-year-old Val Coleman

Val Coleman is sitting in the kitchen of her Wales home. Beside her is her coach Martha Owen, who’s also one of her eight children. It is Martha who discovered her mother’s hidden talent which has led Val to seven indoor rowing world records.

The story began back when Val was just 90 years old. She was recovering from a broken hip and Martha encouraged her to join in a group of women training on the ergs at Martha’s rowing club.

“The first night she joined us she did a 1k and broke the world record!” says Martha. 

The Covid pandemic sealed Val’s indoor rowing calling when Martha arranged for an indoor rowing machine to be delivered to the house. It became Val’s fitness tool and contact with people outside of her home. 

“We joined an Irish gang online during covid and committed to all of the virtual online competitions. We were all at home but doing the competitions together (online),” says Martha.

Val admits she didn’t come from a ‘sporty’ background. She spent her younger years raising eight children before training to be a nurse when she was in her late 40s. 

“If I didn’t have a family I probably would have done more (sport),” says Val. “I always did walking and I have made an effort to keep fit. At school I tried running but always came last. I couldn’t catch a ball and because sporting ability was measured by your ability to run or catch a ball, a lot of women in my age group thought they were rubbish at sport.” 

She took up aerobics in her late 60s and turned to Pilates in her 80s. Indoor rowing has now become her favorite and competing in in-person and virtual races is a staple in her fitness program. 

“One of the reasons I love it, is that I’m sitting down and I feel like I can do anything. It’s ideal for people of my age.”

With Martha as her coach and a group to train with, Val has a set program that includes two sessions a week with the group and four sessions by herself. The whole group follow the same program including a hefty competition schedule. For Val there’s also regular Pilates and sometimes swimming. 

The group, who range in age from 40 through to 97, start off the indoor rowing season with low stroke rate pieces. They then build up the rate through the season. Martha has found going by time work is better than going by distance for her personally. 

Before a race the group eats and hydrates together. Val does a long warm up session of about 20 minutes, starting off gently and then towards the end putting in bursts to target her race split. 

“I plan mentally, I think about the race and I hope that I finish. I never like to drop out,” says Val. “I go in with a plan. I try not to row too hard at the beginning. I watch my split and try to keep under a certain level. And I always seem to find something for the last 200m.”

Val considers success as being able to hold her fitness. 

“It’s good if I’m not deteriorating,” says Val. “I think mostly you can’t fight the aging process but you can hold it off.” says Val. 

Martha describes Val going to a local competition last year and wanting to set a PB. “I said, “You won’t do it because you set your PB at the age of 90. Now 96, she sat down and took 12 seconds off her PB! It’s phenomenal to set a PB at 96! We train hard.” 

“If I’d equalled my time, I would have been quite satisfied,” says Val. “I was shocked and pleased.”

Her current records include two in the 90-94 age category and five in the 95-99 age category and cover varying distances. 

Val calculates that she’s now done more than 40 races in the 2k distance alone. 

“I hate the 2k. I always say I’m never, ever going to enter again. And then … I do it again. I like the 500. I can put everything into it.” 

Next up for Val is a local competition in Bristol. Over three days she’ll do a 2k, a 500 and a 5k. 

Val says there’s no secret to her longevity. 

“I think it’s a question of luck. I do try to keep fit because it’s up to you for the sake of your family to eat properly and get exercise. I very seldom have a drink. The social side of everything you do is extremely important, to be part of a gang. I also sing in the church choir. I see it as my responsibility to stay well, so we’re not a burden on anyone.”

“Lots of people say to me you’re an inspiration, I like that, it’s having a positive influence on others.”

Val Coleman’s World Records
90-94, 1 minute, 179m 2023

90-94, 5000m, 35:36.0 2022

95-99, 100m, 0:35.3 2025

95-99, 1000m, 6:11.2, 2025

95-99, 2000m, 12:45.4, 2025

95-99, 500m, 2:57.8, 2024

95-99, 5000m, 37:43.9, 2026