Idanna Abignente, an 82-year-old from Pino Torinese, Italy, has earned the title of the world's oldest competitive pole dancer. She discovered pole dancing about 12 years ago when a friend of her son opened a studio in Turin and has since transformed it from a fitness challenge into a competitive career and a social media presence.
Abignente trains two to three times a week, intensifying her workouts before competitions. While she often finds herself as the sole competitor in her age division, she has also faced rivals as old as 74. She expressed a desire to meet other competitors over 80.
She emphasized that competitive pole dancing is a demanding discipline that requires strength, balance, flexibility, and endurance, countering common misconceptions about the sport. Abignente stated that success on the pole is more about attitude than age, requiring tenacity, determination, consistency, and a high tolerance for pain.
Abignente credits her lifelong commitment to staying active for her ability to compete. "I've always kept moving," she said. "I've always exercised and tried not to let myself go." She hopes her story inspires others, particularly seniors, to remain active, even if they do not pursue pole dancing.
Her Instagram account, dedicated to her pole dancing journey, has garnered over 33,000 followers, with one post attracting more than a million views. She plans to continue competing and remains dedicated to her rigorous training regimen.