Current:Home > MarketsThe Amazing Race's Oldest Female Contestant Jody Kelly Dead at 85 -WealthMindset Learning
The Amazing Race's Oldest Female Contestant Jody Kelly Dead at 85
View
Date:2025-04-14 18:15:23
The Amazing Race family has lost one of their own.
Jody Kelly—the oldest woman to ever compete on the CBS travel competition—died "suddenly but peacefully" on Sept. 5, according to her obituary in the Austin-American Statesman. She was 85.
Jody, who had resided in Austin, Texas, for more than a decade, was attending Spanish language immersion camp in Minnesota when she died, per the obit.
Born on Jan. 21, 1938, Jody was 71 when she appeared on The Amazing Race's 16th season in 2010. Partnering up with her then-22-year-old granddaughter Shannon Foster, the Alabama native made it to the second round of the race before being eliminated.
At the time, she said her participation on the show was proof that senior people "can do physical things."
And rightly so. In addition to founding StrengthMobile, a company that provides physical training to the elderly, Jody represented Team USA in multiple international races, including the 2010 European Aquatics Championships in Budapest and the 2016 ITU World Triathlon in Cozumel. She was also a member of Paddles with a Purpose—a dragon boat team comprised of breast cancer survivors—after going into remission in 2018.
With a Ph.D. in English Literature from Duke University, Jody was an avid writer. She published several fitness books, including Feeling Good: Strength Training with Your Significant Elder, and also contributed two dozen health-related articles for Austin Fit Magazine.
She is survived by her four children—Kate Leith, Christy Izmirian, Bruce Moore and Kelly Foster—as well as 11 grandchildren, including Shannon, and eight great-grandchildren.
"Jody Kelly was 85 years old and so full of life, joy, and learning," Kelly wrote on Facebook Sept. 6. "She always had a smile for everyone she interacted with and loved meeting people and having new adventures."
She added, "I miss you so much and can't believe you are gone. You are strong, loving, happy, open-minded, smart, active, and brave."
For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News AppveryGood! (3)
Related
- USA men's volleyball mourns chance at gold after losing 5-set thriller, will go for bronze
- Mississippi wildlife officer and K-9 receive medal for finding 3 missing children
- Brittany Cartwright files to divorce Jax Taylor after 5 years of marriage
- Nvidia's financial results are here: What to expect when the AI giant reports on its big day
- Meta donates $1 million to Trump’s inauguration fund
- Russia bans 92 more Americans from the country, including journalists
- 2024 Paralympics: Kate Middleton and Prince William Share Royally Sweet Message Ahead of Games
- Pennsylvania ammo plant boosts production of key artillery shell in Ukraine’s fight against Russia
- Taylor Swift makes surprise visit to Kansas City children’s hospital
- Supreme Court rebuffs Biden administration plea to restore multibillion-dollar student debt plan
Ranking
- Blake Lively’s Inner Circle Shares Rare Insight on Her Life as a Mom to 4 Kids
- Travis Kelce invests in racehorse aptly named Swift Delivery
- Kelsea Ballerini Shares Her Dog Dibs Has Inoperable Heart Cancer
- First look at new Netflix series on the Menendez brothers: See trailer, release date, cast
- Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Triathlon
- Lil Baby arrested in Las Vegas on gun charge; 'defense attorneys investigating the facts'
- First look at new Netflix series on the Menendez brothers: See trailer, release date, cast
- Health insurance providers to fund street doctors and clinics to serve LA’s homeless population
Recommendation
A New York Appellate Court Rejects a Broad Application of the State’s Green Amendment
Scam artists selling bogus magazine subscriptions ripped off $300 million from elderly
Having a family is expensive. Here’s what Harris and Trump have said about easing costs
Brittany Cartwright files to divorce Jax Taylor after 5 years of marriage
Whoopi Goldberg is delightfully vile as Miss Hannigan in ‘Annie’ stage return
The Daily Money: Pricing the American Dream
At 68, she wanted to have a bat mitzvah. Then her son made a film about it.
Nonprofit Law Center Asks EPA to Take Over Water Permitting in N.C.