Italian woman becomes worlds oldest competitive pole dancer at 82

Most people slow down in their elder years, but Idanna Abignente decided to climb a pole instead.At 82, she has earned the title of the world’s oldest competitive pole dancer, according to Italy’s FQ Magazine — and is not about to let her birth certificate dictate what she can and can’t do.“I don’t want the number to decide for me,” Abignente said.“I’ll turn 83 in September.

I don’t pretend to be 40, but I won’t let my age define me.”Abignente, who lives in the Italian town of Pino Torinese, discovered pole dancing about 12 years ago after her son’s friend opened a studio in Turin, the outlet reported.What started as a fitness challenge quickly became a passion — and eventually a competitive career and social media stardom with her Instagram account, which boasts over 33,000 followers, attracting more than a million views on a June 4 post.Now she trains two or three times a week, ramping up her workouts even more before competitions.At the most recent championships, Abignente said she was the only athlete in her age division.“I always win because there aren’t any other competitors over 80,” she joked.She has also competed in more than 70 categories and the oldest rival she’s faced was an American woman who was 74.“I still haven’t met anyone over 80,” she said.

“I’d really like to.”While pole dancing is often dubiously associated with exotic entertainment, Abignente stresses that the competitive sport is a serious discipline requiring strength, balance, flexibility and endurance.“It’s a complete sport, but also a very demanding one,” she said.“You have to learn to trust your body and endure physical exertion.

Like many sports, it leaves its marks.”Success on the pole, she said, has less to do with age than attitude.“Pole dance is for everyone,” she said.“But it takes tenacity, determination, consistency and a high tolerance for pain.”Abignente has no plans to stop anytime soon — and credits a lif...