Iron Gran: In Her 80s and Doing Triathlons

After losing her much-loved husband in her 50s, Eddie started running long distances to help her cope. She learned to swim at 60, and at 72, became the oldest British woman ever to complete an Ironman triathlon – a full-distance endurance event consisting of a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bike ride and a 26.2-mile marathon – earning her the title ‘Iron Gran’.

Now in her ninth decade, she shows no signs of slowing down. Eddie runs a charity dedicated to promoting fitness, friendship and companionship among pensioners, proving that age is no barrier to ambition, joy or reinvention.

Bill Bailey pairs Eddie with realist painter Caroline Pool, an artist whose work challenges society’s perceptions of ageing and celebrates the lived experiences etched into older faces. Caroline is particularly drawn to older women's stories, rich with resilience, humour and hard-won wisdom.
As Caroline spends time with Eddie, she faces a creative dilemma. Should the portrait capture Eddie’s fun-loving energy, the 'Iron Gran' who defies expectations, or reveal something quieter and more reflective beneath the surface?