John Shackleton is an award-winning author, record-breaking swimmer, and one of the fittest septuagenarians on the planet, whose life has been defined by relentless pursuit of human potential and wellbeing.
Originally from a background in sports psychology, John began his career coaching world champions and Olympic medallists, helping elite athletes push beyond their limits. Over more than four decades, his fascination with the human mind and body fuelled his own journey as both a competitor and a thought leader, earning him numerous accolades, including Inspirational Speaker of the Year and Speaker of the Year from the Professional Speaker Association of New Zealand, as well as the CSP (Certified Speaking Professional) designation from the National Speakers Association of Australia.
In his personal life, John has always tested boundaries. As a competitive swimmer, he set records well into his later years, determined to prove that age need not diminish performance. Now in his seventies, he maintains fitness levels comparable to men thirty years younger, with a maximum heart rate and VO2 max that place him in the top 5% for his age group.
John’s philosophy is grounded in practical wisdom. Having confronted the realities of ageing and the body’s natural decline, he believes passionately that with clear goals, the right mindset, and sustainable habits, anyone can extend their health-span and enjoy a longer, more vibrant life. His approach rejects extremes—eschewing ultra-marathons or rigid diets—in favour of simple, consistent choices that preserve strength, mobility, and vitality.
After retiring from professional engagements in 2018 to focus on overcoming cancer, John embarked on an intensive personal exploration into what causes people to struggle, both physically and mentally, as they age. His successful battle with illness became a catalyst for new purpose. Drawing on his own experiences, he authored his latest book, Tiny Bit More, which shares practical habits to transform health and fitness in midlife and beyond.
John lives what he teaches. He continues to swim, train, and maintain a lifestyle that reflects his core belief: that the later decades of life can be a time of exceptional energy and wellbeing. His story is a testament to resilience, the power of mindset, and the conviction that it’s never too late to be at your best.
Talking Points
The Peter Pan mindset.
What health habits would your 70 year old self, tell you to change NOW, before it’s too late?The Peter Pan mindset.
Unfortunately we can’t avoid getting old but we all want to live our later years looking and feeling young, being able to do the things we were capable of in our 30’s and 40’s. Science hasn’t yet created the drug to make this possible, however some individuals have proven that with the right mindset, exercise regime and diet, we can increase our health-span and live longer healthier lives. 70 year old John Shackleton is one of those people and this keynote outlines the path he has followed and explains how you can do it too.
On average New Zealanders live to the age of 83 but many experience a gradual decline in their overall health during their 50’s and 60’s. If we want to improve our physical and mental health as we age we have to adopt a different lifestyle to the one we are currently following. But first we have to change what we believe is possible and what we think we are capable of. The earlier we get on this track the better chance we have of achieving our longevity goals. The Peter Pan Mindset explores the actions we need to take and the attitudes and beliefs required to extend our health-span.
Science is proving that living a longer, happier and healthier life is within everyone’s grasp but nurturing the right mindset is the first step. This doesn’t mean ‘thinking ourselves young’, it means developing empowering beliefs about ourselves and our potential, that drive us towards our goals. Perfecting this mindset and creating good health habits during our 30’s and 40’s will ensure that we will have better results in our 50’s, 60’s and beyond.
Ageless aging is becoming more and more available to all those wishing to turn back their clock. By adopting The Peter Pan Mindset we can dramatically improve our chances of staying younger and healthier for longer.
Takeaways:
This Longevity presentation explores:
- Is physical and mental decline inevitable as we age or is there a path we can take to extend our health-span and when should we start on that path?
- Science has has several way of predicting an individual’s longevity. If we know our ‘score’ what can we do to improve it?
- Who is already on this path and how are they achieving improved health and fitness?
- Our attitudes and beliefs determine our results in life. What mindset do we need to adopt to increase our longevity?
- What new habits do we need to perfect to extend our health-span?
- What exactly is ‘a healthy lifestyle’ and can anyone achieve it?
What would your 70 year old self, tell you to change NOW, before it’s too late?
Video
Keynote Snippet
John is very approachable, unflappable and calm. He is great to deal with and made great conversation before the event started so that he gained a clearer pictureof who his audience were. Jo ... keep reading Harcourts Group
John was very inspirational and absorbing. Very impressed with his style and content - all felt inspired and motivated afterwards.
[The presentation] was very direct, organised and easy to understand. The guys got a lot from Shack. He had a great insight into some of the basics of life.
