Margaret Armstrong is still going strong in her squash career at the age of 85. Because of her active life on the court, the grandmother from the United Kingdom has been officially declared the world’s oldest female squash player by Guinness World Records.
Squash is a sport that requires tremendous physical stamina, strong eyes, acute awareness, and excellent depth perception.
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It’s a physically demanding sport because players must move quickly and change directions while swinging a racquet.
Margaret is from Dalham, which is near Newmarket in Suffolk. According to the BBC, she plays squash twice a week in addition to tennis.
Despite having her left foot reattached after a car accident several years ago, she did not give up on the sport.
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She has a very specific reason for her strong attachment to the sport. “Because you don’t have to run as much if you know what you’re doing.”
Margeret said she decided to go for the world record after being encouraged by a friend. Before the official announcement, her daughter handled all of the paperwork, which included submitting Margaret’s birth certificate and other documents to Guinness World Records.
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But squash isn’t the only sport the 85-year-old has ever participated in. Margaret began playing football at the age of eight after being taught by two Everton players, Tommy Farrell and Peter Eglington.
She was a member of the England national netball team in addition to football and squash.
Due to a lack of indoor courts, she switched to squash full-time.
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Margaret has been coached in squash by Egyptian player Abou Taleb, a three-time winner of the British Open.
“Instead of aimlessly slamming the ball around the court, I learned to make use of the four walls. This, I believe, is why I’m still playing. Because if you know what you’re doing, you won’t have to run as much”. According to the BBC, she said.