Italian woman, 91, breaks running record — what makes her body different, according to doctors

Most 91-year-olds are racing to their recliners. Not Emma Maria Mazzenga.

The Italian nonagenarian sprinted through a 200-meter dash in under a minute last year, crushing the previous world record for her age group. While others were gasping for air, Mazzenga was already sizing up her next race.

Amazed by her speed, doctors investigated what makes this senior sprinter tick. Now, they’ve uncovered the unique physical traits that have helped make Mazzenga one of Italy’s most unstoppable athletic wonders. 

A body built to move

After blazing through a 200-meter dash in just 51.47 seconds — nearly 1.5 seconds faster than the previous 90-plus world record — Mazzenga enrolled in a scientific study to help scientists better understand her powerhouse physiology.

Italian researchers put the speed queen through a battery of tests, including cycling drills, knee exercises and thigh muscle biopsies. 

They found two key factors fueling her fire. 

First, Mazzenga’s cardiorespiratory fitness — how well her heart and lungs pump oxygen to her muscles — was on par with a highly fit woman in her 50s. The energy centers of her cells were also virtually identical to a person decades younger. 

Second, her muscles were incredibly unique. Mazzenga’s slow-twitch fibers — built for endurance — were “remarkably large,” letting her go the distance without burning out.

She also had a “very high percentage” of fast-twitch fibers, which produce powerful bursts of energy. According to researchers, these are ideal for fast, explosive movements like sprinting.

“This unique combination likely contributed to her exceptional 200m sprint performance, allowing her to maintain both endurance and speed at an advanced age,” said Dr. Marta Colosio, a postdoctoral fellow at Marquette University and first author of the study.

Decades in the making

So, how does a 91-year-old end up with the body — and sprint times — of someone half her age?

Simple: she’s been putting in the work for decades.

Born in 1933, Mazzenga first hit the track during her university days, competing in the 100, 200, 400 and even the 800-meter races. Her crowning achievement was a fourth-place finish at the national championships in Rome.

But as life went on, she became a wife, mother and chemistry professor, putting her track career on hold for more than two decades.

“I got married in 1963,” Mazzenga told Vogue Italia. “I returned to racing in 1986 with my old teammates.”

At 53, she joined the masters athletics circuit — competitive races for older runners organized by age group — and never looked back.

“All the costs are on me, but I’m happy to do it,” she said. “The emotion that a race gives me, the adrenaline that each training session gives me, are the pure energy of my days.” 

That passion is paying off.

“Lifelong exercise training can enable extraordinary performance and maintain high functional levels even into the ninth decade of life,” Colosio said. 

Today, she holds five world records five world records, nine European records and 28 best Italian performances in various categories of Masters sprinting.

Mazzenga, who’s been widowed for more than 40 years, credits running not just with keeping her body strong — but also her mind.

“It got me through some difficult times, which of course haven’t been lacking in a life as long as mine,“ she told Reuters. 

Running “also allowed me always to be surrounded by a lot of people, so that I was never alone,“ Mazzenga added.

It’s never too late 

Most people who reach their 90s slow down — and for good reason. 

Aging brings a range of physiological changes, such as a decline in muscle mass, bone density, joint flexibility and overall mobility. Conditions like arthritis and osteoporosis, along with lifestyle factors like inactivity and poor nutrition, only accelerate the decline. 

But researchers say physical activity can help preserve and even improve mobility in older adults, while also preventing age-related declines, even for those who haven’t been athletes their entire lives.

“Exercise is a powerful tool for promoting healthy aging,” Colosio said.

In particular, aerobic and strength exercises, along with balance training, can help seniors maintain mobility, independence and a high quality of life — whether or not they’re chasing world records like Mazzenga.