Obstacle course racing is a gritty, physically demanding sport, with competitors enduring challenges at every turn. You won't see it this month at the Paris Olympics, but will debut in 2028 at the next summer Games in Los Angeles as part of the modern pentathlon, inspiring a new group of elite athletes. Wendy Bounds won't be competing, but cheering on Team USA as they go for gold. At 52 years old, this journalist and cancer survivor believes she already won, crediting the sport for changing her life.

I typed in, What are the hardest things you can do? And the Google algorithm spit back out, Spartan Race and Obstacle Course Racing.

So when you decided to do this in your mid-forties, what was the feedback? What did people tell you?

Are you insane?

But it's a breakthrough that got her moving in ways she never thought possible, swinging, climbing, and tackling obstacles even after her skin cancer diagnosis.

I was super lucky. They called it very, very early, but suddenly, mortality is right there in your face. And if I hadn't had this to give me back some sense of control over my body. I don't know, honestly, what would have happened.

Charging ahead, Wendy's now the epitome of health, training hours each day with the help of two coaches, and often a top finisher in her age group at competitions across country.

I was a skinny kid last picked for sports teams. I sat on the bench. I handed my friends water. I always wanted to be an athlete.

Wendy's transformation didn't happen overnight. Her first race humbled her.

I was terrified. I fell off the 17-foot rope, and I almost quit at that point, but I didn't. So that was race number one.

Fast forward to race number 51 in New York, where I got to join her as she coached, encouraged courage and push me to keep going, proving it's not too late, even for me. She's carried this theme into a book, writing a roadmap for rediscovery and resilience at any age.

And just like that, I climb up the rest of the wall. This success is so shocking to me that I literally yell to nobody since I don't know anybody, Oh, my God, I'm going to do this.

By flipping the script on aging, she's unleashed a fierce competitor now inspiring others to find their inner athlete. Kathy Park, NBC News, New York.

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