Sir Rod Stewart Is Chasing a 100m World Record at 80

Age isn’t slowing down Sir Rod Stewart if anything, it’s pushing him to run faster. The music icon, known for his legendary voice and decades of success, has a new goal in mind: to break the 100-meter sprint world record for 80-year-olds.

Though he's already earned a knighthood, a Grammy, and a spot in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Stewart is channeling his energy into sprinting.

Through focused training and a drive to keep his body in peak condition, he's cut his 100m time to 19 seconds.

But he's aiming for more. “I’ve got it down to 19 seconds by learning how to push off,” he told AARP Magazine. “Now I’m going for 17 seconds, which I think would be a world record for someone my age.”

However, there’s a tough benchmark to beat. In October 2024, American sprinter Kenton Brown ran an astonishing 14.21 seconds at the Nevada Senior Games, becoming the fastest 80-year-old in recorded history.

And he did it against a slight headwind of -0.7m/s, suggesting he could’ve gone even faster with better conditions.

Still, Stewart remains undeterred. He trains daily on his private running track at his English estate and incorporates plenty of underwater workouts into his routine.

This aquatic training serves a dual purpose: it boosts his fitness and strengthens his singing voice.

With a performance lined up in the coveted Legends slot at Glastonbury this June, Stewart is staying sharp. “I keep myself very fit,” he shared. “I played soccer all my life don’t play much anymore after a knee replacement but I’ve had the same trainer for 38 years.

I’ve got a huge gym, an indoor pool, a golf course you name it.”

He detailed one of his most unique exercises: his trainer tosses a brick into the pool, and Stewart has to dive in, push it to the far end, and surface.

It's a drill inspired by advice from none other than Frank Sinatra. “He told me the secret to being a great singer is having powerful lungs.

So do lots of underwater swimming and hold your breath.”

World record or not, Stewart proves that passion, dedication, and a bit of rock-star grit can push the limits at any age.