Laird Hamilton and Gabby Reece Find New Ways to Stay Fit After 50

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Published 2024-02-02
In this exclusive AARP interview, beach volleyball champion Gabby Reece (54) and her husband, pro surfer Laird Hamilton (59), share their secrets on how to live a healthy life. The husband-and-wife team discuss how their fitness lifestyle has evolved over the years and how they’ve used the wisdom they’ve gained from professional coaches and trainers to create a routine that is sustainable. They highlight that the most important things in any fitness goal are consistency and fun.

Reece fell in love with volleyball when she was 7 years old, playing at a club, throughout high school, then at the collegiate level at Florida State University. That was where she won the 1989 Dodge National Athletics Award for most inspiring collegiate athlete. In the same year, she was one of the athletes recognized in Rolling Stone magazine’s “Wonder Women of Sports.” Soon she began modeling and acting and became a spokesperson for various health and fitness brands, including Nike. After college, Reece played professional volleyball and continued to model and act, appearing in several movies and television shows. She hosts The Gabby Reece Show, a podcast where she invites top experts to discuss information that could help people navigate health, fitness, parenting and business.

In addition to being a professional surfer, Laird Hamilton is a world-renowned waterman and adrenaline junkie. He has been a pivotal influence behind many aquatic innovations, including tow-in surfing, stand-up paddleboarding and hydrofoil boarding. He grew up on the North Shore of Oahu where his mother married big-wave surfer Bill Hamilton, who coached him in the sport. As a teenager, Laird left school to pursue a modeling career, landing a photo shoot with actress Brooke Shields in 1983. On Aug. 17, 2000, Hamilton confirmed his place in history by surfing the 70-foot Millennium Wave in Teahupo’o, Tahiti. It was the first time a wave of that size had ever been ridden. Despite not wanting to surf competitively, Hamilton gained popularity due to his athletic feats, and he received acting and stunt requests for movies. He was a stuntman for Kevin Costner in Waterworld (1995) and for Pierce Brosnan, who played James Bond in the movie Die Another Day (2002).

00:00 Introduction
00:21 Gabby Reece and Laird Hamilton
00:33 Gabby Reece isn't defined by her age
00:51 Beach volleyball champion and Nike spokesperson
01:33 Laird Hamilton pioneered big-wave surfing
02:10 New outlets for passion for fitness
02:48 Gabby Reece: Consistency is key
03:05 Laird Hamilton: Make fitness fun
03:32 How Gabby and Laird stay motivated to work out

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AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to helping people ages 50 and older to improve their quality of life as they age. With over 38 million members and growing, we lead positive social change through our extensive product offerings and services.

All Comments (9)
  • @Tom-Travels
    I'm 73. I started working out almost daily in 1964. That's over 60 years. Millions of calories ago. My workout habit has never, ever, stopped. That's how to stay Lean, Fit, and Healthy for an entire life. I also love physical work, pretty women and protein. Most people born in 1951 are doomed or already dead. Not me. I expect to live another 20 years. 93 years will be enough.
  • @welltrinity2191
    Mentality is everything! Aging is part of life, and it's a privilege to be older and wiser. With age comes some challenges for sure, but we are all athletes in this sport of life, and we all want a quality life in our later years, so taking care of our body is paramount! I work as a personal trainer and have many clients over the age of fifty, and I can say with confidence they are some of the hardest working clients who understand life is about vitality! Wonderful video guys, we need more motivation to remain active in this ever more sedentary world. Go out and make memories, that's what this body is for!
  • @Alex-xf8pl
    Such a nice couple. I like the "make it fun part, kayaking, cycling". Motivated me to go to the gym today.
  • @RR_DM
    mmm no pienso papa es typo de persona que gusta vivir en una casa comunidad sin indepencía, libertad 🥐