Shirley Robertson: ‘When you age you should be less concerned about thinness and calories’

The real lives of Olympians: in the lead up to the Paris Olympics, we will be talking to former Olympian medallists about how they keep fit now – from ageing and retiring to what they eat and how much they exercise. Meet the sixth in our series, Shirley Robertson. 

Robertson is a sailor and the first British woman to win an Olympic gold medal at consecutive games: Sydney in 2000 and Athens in 2004. She was the first ever female skipper in the groundbreaking Extreme 40 Sailing Series and also broadcasts commentary on her sport. The 56-year-old lives in Cowes with her husband and teenage twins.

How fit do you feel?

I feel really good. I feel strong in my body. If I had to lift up a sofa, I could, which wasn’t the case 10 years ago. 

I’m not afraid of using my body still because it’s quite strong. Muscle is so important. A lot of women worry about putting on weight, but I think your body is more useful when it’s got strength. When you age you should be less concerned about thinness and calories.

What motivates you to stay fit?

I’m quite motivated to stay healthy because I want to keep doing things in my old age. I don’t want to get old and have a sore back and bad joints. I want to keep racing, swimming and being active.