59-year-old Montreal gymnast to represent Canada at international competition

Montreal gymnast Milda Graham is preparing to compete at an international gymnastics festival in Germany in May.

Gymnast Milda Graham is preparing to compete at an international gymnastics festival in Germany in May.

The 59-year-old says her age is not slowing her down.

“It’s really fun to kind of push the boundaries of people’s expectations,” she said.

Graham always loved gymnastics and played competitively on and off for decades.

“Something kept pulling me back. I think it was that my inner child just really loved gymnastics as a kind of pure expression,” she said.

Spending extra time to warm up and stretch is a vital part of her routine. She says it keeps her in touch with her body and its limits.

“You get a personal teaching experience of your own body to understand what you must accommodate,” she said.

Although she was born in the U.S., Graham is hoping to bring back a medal for Canada.

“I’ve made my home in Montreal, I love Montreal, and the idea that I’m representing, in this climate, something that’s really passionate to my identity and my locale and my community,” she said.

Her coach, Andrea Ropeleski, says she is proud of Graham’s achievements.

“I can’t even describe it. I’m thrilled. I’m thrilled for Milda. She works hard for it. She always shows up. If anyone deserves to represent Canada, she does.”

Das Turnfest 2025 will run from May 28 until June 1 in Leipzig, Germany.