Peloton has quietly introduced new senior age categories – 90+ and 100+ – after a 14-month campaign led by 91-year old Peloton member Dottie Dorion. CBS recently profiled Dorion’s journey.
Peloton allows members to indicate their age group, which can then be utilized on the leaderboard to compare and compete with peers. Until recently, Peloton’s age groupings were capped at 60+. Dorion, as a lifelong athlete and passionate advocate for healthy aging, found this unacceptable and took it upon herself to make sure older members were not overlooked in Peloton’s leaderboard system.
In the CBS segment, correspondent Skyler Henry visited Dorion in Jacksonville, Florida, showcasing her story. She has completed nearly 3,000 Peloton rides as a member since 2018, and leads an incredibly active lifestyle that includes yoga, weight training, and daily cycling classes – shown in the segment with instructor Denis Morton. She has also completed around 250 marathons and triathlons, including three Ironman competitions. Her first Ironman came in 1985 at age 52 – after she learned to swim just to participate.
Dorion’s motto is “use it, or lose it.” She explained that she wasn’t going to compete with “those young 80-year-olds,” and asked Peloton to add age groups for 90+.
After initially reaching out to Peloton’s CEO – Barry McCarthy, at the time – in writing and receiving no response, Dorion enlisted legal help. Over the course of more than a year and several rounds of correspondence, her message got through. Peloton ultimately agreed to add both 90+ and 100+ categories, expanding visibility and recognition for some of its oldest members.
Dorion had a cheeky response when she got the final approval email from Peloton: “What took you so long?” She hopes the change will empower more seniors to stay active and feel seen. She told CBS: “You can never give up. If you’re doing the right things for the right reasons, it’s gonna turn out well.”
With the new categories now live, Dorion and others in her age group can ride – and compete – with authenticity and pride.
You can read the full article and watch the accompanying video via CBS.
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Dorion is a beast! Now I have another goal – make it to the 70s, 80s, 90s, and 100s age categories on the leaderboard!