Maxine Gray is the definition of a late bloomer.
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But the 74-year-old figure skater says she has no plans of slowing down as she prepares to spin her way to the Australian Masters Games.
Maxine, the oldest competitive figure skater in Canberra, only started in the sport when she was 38, to support a friend going through hard times.
The friend dropped out soon after, but Maxine "fell in love with the grace, colour and movement of figure skating".
She's had broken bones and competed regularly against 18-year-olds but maintains her love of the sport. She even makes her own costumes.
"I love being on the ice, but it's more than that," she said.
"There's a lovely camaraderie among the skaters that crosses age groups and other boundaries."
Maxine recently competed at the annual international adult figure skating competition in Oberstdorf, Germany, claiming first place in the bronze ladies free skating and artistic fields.
The Monash grandmother has kept her passion alive, despite a number of obstacles along the way.
"I broke my tibia and fibula whilst skating, which put me out for a couple of years but I didn't stay away for long," Maxine said.
"I am certainly not doing crazy stunts, I am only doing single jumps but I am good enough to beat a whole lot of others and that's a great feeling."
Maxine will compete at the Australian Masters Games in Adelaide in October, joining a number of sporting enthusiast of all ages, genders and in many different sports.
Maxine is the oldest competitive figure skate in the national capital, and in some competitions she often finds herself competing against skaters who are sometimes more than 50 years younger than she is.
"There is a huge range of different ages in one section, but I have beaten girls who are in their 20s and that is quite satisfying," Maxine said.
"The younger ones go to gymnastics, ballet and do all sorts of fitness regimes, whereas I don't, I often find myself being a little bit lazy."
Despite being a very physically demanding sport for her age, Maxine is keeping busy on her feet ahead of the Masters competition in October, planning to skate in Melbourne in August and at the Federation Challenge in September.
"The [Masters Games] is a great way to bring many people together, there will be a lot of people competing, especially a lot of older people, I think people think of older people as more sedentary," Gray said.
About 8000 participants from across Australia and overseas will compete in more than 50 different sports, ranging from lawn bowls to dragon boat, to softball and tennis.
The event does not impose any qualifying standards and is open to all age requirements.
It is a week-long event of sport and festivities, including an opening and closing ceremony and will run from October 5 until October 12.