An 80-year-old champion athlete says playing ping pong keeps her mind sharp. ‘I’m currently living the best chapter of my life.’
In a remarkable testament to the power of active aging, Carol Klenfner has embraced the world of competitive ping pong in her later years, demonstrating that it’s never too late to pursue new passions. Klenfner, who began her journey into table tennis at the age of 69, was inspired by a documentary that showcased senior athletes competing at the World Masters Championship. This pivotal moment reignited her competitive spirit, which had waned after a car accident in her youth sidelined her from sports. Now, at 80, Klenfner not only plays but excels in the sport, having won over 50 medals in various competitions, including a gold medal at the National Senior Games in Pittsburgh in 2023.
Klenfner’s daily routine reflects her commitment to maintaining both physical and mental agility. She engages in a rigorous exercise regimen that includes squats, resistance training, and Pilates, all tailored to enhance her performance in ping pong while supporting her overall well-being. The cognitive benefits of her practice are evident; she reports improved reflexes and heightened awareness, which have become second nature in her daily life. As she prepares for the upcoming 2025 National Senior Games, Klenfner emphasizes the importance of staying active, not just for competition but for mental health and personal fulfillment. Her story serves as an inspiring reminder that new beginnings can emerge at any stage of life, reinforcing the notion that physical activity is crucial for maintaining cognitive function and vitality in older adults.
Klenfner’s journey underscores the broader implications of regular physical activity for seniors. Research indicates that engaging in sports like ping pong can enhance balance, coordination, and fine motor skills, all of which contribute to reducing the risk of cognitive decline and frailty. With her infectious enthusiasm and dedication to her craft, Klenfner encourages others to embrace new challenges, proving that age should never be a barrier to pursuing one’s passions. She advocates for the idea that learning and growth can occur at any age, inspiring countless individuals to step outside their comfort zones and explore new opportunities for joy and competition. As Klenfner continues to thrive in her athletic endeavors, she exemplifies the vibrant spirit of active aging, reminding us all that life can be lived fully, regardless of the number of candles on the birthday cake.
Carol Klenfner has found a renewed sense of competition after picking up ping pong later in life.
Mark Adam Miller / Business Insider
Carol Klenfner credits ping pong for keeping her mind sharp and active in her 80s.
She began playing table tennis in her late 60s after seeing a documentary on senior athletes.
Klenfner’s daily exercise routine and competitive spirit highlight the benefits of active aging.
Carol Klenfner had played ping pong on and off since growing up and into adulthood, but it wasn’t until she was 69 that she picked up the paddle to compete.
Within just a few months of playing consistently, she began to notice a difference.
“I remember when I started playing ping pong,” she told Business Insider’s Sarah Andersen in April, “I noticed that my reflexes were faster than they had been.”
Now, after more than a decade of playing and competing at the national level and earning more than 50 medals, she attributes the sport to
keeping her mind sharp
and engaged as she enters her 80s.
Andersen followed Klenfner as she trained for the
2025 National Senior Games
in Des Moines this summer:
Ping pong’s speed demands full attention — the spin of the ball, the bounce off the paddle, and the angle of each return. That focus, repeated hundreds of times a day, has helped tune both Klenfner’s
body and mind
, she said.
“If I’m in the bathroom and something falls off the medicine chest, my hand is there catching it before it even registers in my head,” Klenfner said.
Klenfner’s experience aligns with what researchers have found on the effect of
regular physical activity
and strength training on the aging human brain.
Building balance, coordination, and fine motor control can strengthen neural connections,
reducing the risk
of cognitive decline and frailty in older adults.
Klenfner’s many medals.
Courtesy of Carol Klenfner
What’s more, picking up ping pong later in life gave Klenfner a renewed sense of adventure.
“The single most important thing that I’ve learned, and the advice that I would give to somebody who wants to pick up something new later in life, is that it’s never too late to learn,” she said. “It’s never too late to
start something new
.”
Picking up a new sport later in life
Before tackling table tennis, Klenfner had spent most of her life avoiding sports. She was injured in a car crash in college that dislocated her hip. After that, running, playing tennis, and general athletics were off the table.
“It changed the trajectory of my life till now,” she said of the event. “I kind of stopped playing sports at that point.”
Then, in her late 60s, she saw the documentary “Ping Pong” on PBS, which follows a group of seniors, ages 80 to 100, going to the World Masters Championship.
Klenfner, who avoided sports most of her life, is now an award-winning champion athlete.
Mark Adam Miller / Business Insider
“I watched that documentary and I said, ‘Well, I can’t play tennis anymore because of my back and my sciatica, but I think I could play ping pong,'” she said.
Now, at 80, she plays table tennis and trains several times a week.
She’s competed
in many events, including the Empire State Senior Games and the National Senior Games. She won gold for women’s singles at the national games in Pittsburgh in 2023 and took fifth at the 2025 games in Iowa, which disappointed her but didn’t deter her from continuing.
“Winning’s better, but I love to play and playing is the goal,” she said.
How she stays in shape at the competitive level in her 80s
Klenfner exercising in her small but lovely Manhattan studio apartment, as she describes it.
Mark Adam Miller / Business Insider
Klenfner says she
works out every day
, morning and night. Space is limited in her small studio Manhattan apartment, but she gets creative.
She completes about 60 squats, including one-legged squats, each morning while her oatmeal warms.
Then, she’ll do some stretches specifically for her back and sciatica, followed by side planks to strengthen her oblique muscles, which are key for the side-to-side motion in ping pong, she says.
After that, she’ll typically head to either PingPod to practice with their coaches or her private Pilates trainer, whom she sees twice a week.
Klenfner playing ping pong at PingPod in New York.
Mark Adam Miller / Business Insider
In the evenings, she completes sets of resistance exercises with a weight band that she attaches to the only door in her place: the bathroom door.
Klenfner says there are three main reasons she’s so committed to exercising daily: staying strong for her tournaments, staying strong for her life, and helping her mental health. “I am happy when I’m moving,” she said.
“I’m currently living the best chapter of my life in a lot of ways. I am doing what I want to do when I want to do it.”
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