SWNS_IRON_GRAN_04

Sarah Jouault in 2005 in Honalolo representing GB , for the 1st time in world olympic championshps . See SWNS story SWGRAN; A hairdresser who only started running in her 40s has been dubbed 'Britain's Toughest Great-Gran' - after she ranked among the best Ironman athletes in the WORLD. Salon owner Sarah Jouault, 61, had never been into sport before she started running 14 years ago to help cope with the death of her husband. Within months she was running sub-four hour marathon and took up triathlons and Ironmans for a new challenge - after only learning to cycle and swim in her 50s. She won bronze in her first ever race in 2001 - despite doing breast stroke - and went on to win 13 first place medals in her age category in just three years. Despite competing against professional athletes, she has beat them to compete in FOUR half Ironman World Championships - ranking 6th in the globe in her best race. The grandmother-of-six has just been named All World Athlete - the top five per cent of Ironman competitors in her age group in the world - a feat usually reached by pros. The inspirational step great-gran said she is going to keep doing sponsored events until she reaches her £120,000 fundraising goal for children's charities. Super-fit Sarah, from Selsey, West Sussex, said: "I'm just really good at running and I never saw the point in doing it for no reason so started raising money too”