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I’m not sure how I got on the old lady pole dancing beat, but I’m here. Is it a fascination with the crazy in the world? Is it for the love of the game? The answer is anyone’s guess.
Enough about me. Let’s focus on why we’re all here. An 82-year-old Italian woman who isn’t plopping herself in a chair and knitting sweaters all day long. She’s too busy for that.
Idanna Abignente is out climbing on poles performing moves designed for much younger women and earning herself the title of “World’s Oldest Pole Dancer,” which is in the bio of her Instagram account.
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Why wouldn’t she have an Instagram account? And why wouldn’t she have tens of thousands of followers? She’s an 82-year-old who still rocks a two piece and hangs upside down on a pole.
The soon-to-be 83-year-old got her start about 12 years ago when a friend of her son’s opened a studio in Turin, reports the NY Post. A fitness challenge followed and turned into a passion.
Abignente has been on a pole ever since. She competes and trains at least two or three times a week when she’s not preparing for competitions, although she doesn’t have much competition in her age group.
“I always win because there aren’t any other competitors over 80,” she said. “I still haven’t met anyone over 80. I’d really like to.”
The oldest competitor she’s faced was a 74-year-old American and that took place last year. This is more than an activity for strippers. It’s a sport, according to Abignente, and not one for the weak.
“It’s a complete sport, but also a very demanding one. You have to learn to trust your body and endure physical exertion. Like many sports, it leaves its marks,” she explained.
While anyone can do it, you need “tenacity, determination, consistency and a high tolerance for pain” to reach her level.
As if you haven’t already been inspired enough by an 82-year-old pole dancer, she’s not planning to quit doing what she loves. She’s going to keep going.
“I’ll be 83 in September, I’m not pretending to be 40. But I don’t want the number to decide for me.”
