Acuff defies age with 5th Olympic trip

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Four years ago, Amy Acuff had just wrapped up competition in the high jump at her fourth Olympic games.

She was 33 years old at the time and competing in an event where most are retired by the time they reach their mid-twenties.

So Acuff began what she thought would be the rest of her life.

“I had a daughter and thought I was retired,” said Acuff. “I had no intentions of coming back to the sport.”

In 2011, she became a licensed acupuncturist and started working at Performance Therapy Group where she began helping clients get the most out of their bodies.

Ironically, Acuff found she could still get plenty out of hers.

“A lot of the speed and strength was still there after just a couple of weeks,” said Acuff about her return to the track.

The speed and strength was enough to carry her to Eugene, Ore., and lift her high enough to qualify for her fifth Olympic team.

She will be 37 years old when she walks into the Olympic Stadium in London on Aug. 9 to compete in the high jump.

The secret just may be in her day job.

“To be 37 next week and competing in the Olympics is a testimony to the therapy I receive,” she said.

With the job, husband, and 2-year-old daughter, Acuff has plenty on her plate.

But that could also be part of the success.

“I don’t know if it is the mama power or age, wisdom, experience, but something is working for me right now," she said.

Working well enough that Acuff has reason to believe she can bring home the medal that has eluded her to this point.

“I got fourth place in Athens in 2004 and I fell like I am in better form now at age 37.”