Rod Stewart, 81, Sparks fears his lungs will explode
RadarOnline.com can reveal Rod Stewart has stoked fears his lungs – and even his heart – could collapse as he subjects himself to tough underwater exercises and sprint training at the age of 81, determined to defy age ahead of a grueling 2026 tour.
The British rock legend, who reached another milestone birthday in January, is gearing up for 37 dates in the US and Europe in 2026 – and in preparation maintains a fitness regime at his English estate that includes the use of an indoor pool, a private gym, a golf course and a 100-metre running track.
Stewart, who has battled prostate and thyroid cancer in the past, is also chasing a 100m world record for his age group – a goal that has alarmed those closest to him.
“I keep myself very fit,” Stewart recently explained. “I’ve played football all my life. I don’t do that that often anymore because I had a knee replacement. And I’ve always had a trainer, the same man for 38 years.” That trainer, Gary O’Connor, structures Stewart’s workouts around longevity rather than vanity.
“You have to look at what is achievable, what is repeatable – in other words, it has to be something you can do on a regular basis – and it has to be relevant to your lifestyle,” O’Connor said.
Yet Stewart’s regime is far from gentle. It was inspired decades ago by the advice of Frank Sinatra, who told him, “Rod, the secret of a great singer is to have powerful lungs – do a lot of underwater swimming, holding your breath.”
Stewart has made water endurance the core of his training, as a result of Ol’ Blue Eyes’ advice. “We do a lot of underwater training, where the trainer throws a rock into the pool and I have to dive in, push the rock to the end of the pool and come up,” Stewart said.
Flippers and rebreather tubes are sometimes used, and sessions may involve treading water while holding a rock above your head or dragging weighted objects from deep to shallow ends.
“He really enjoys doing this because he says it helps his singing. This is all about holding your breath,” O’Connor added. “We have obstacles, and he’s the kind of guy who says, ‘Time me,’ and then tries to beat it. These aren’t just swimming sessions, they’re almost like military training.”
Stewart’s ambitions extend beyond endurance for his two-hour shows. But medical observers note that high-intensity sprinting and prolonged breathing exercises can significantly increase blood pressure and heart rate, especially in older athletes.
A source familiar with Stewart’s preparations said: “At his age, the pursuit of explosive speed and extreme apnea capacity is extraordinary. The fear isn’t about commitment – it’s about biology.”
It comes after Stewart announced his ambition to set a new world sprint record for his age group. The rock icon said last year of his 100-meter sprint goal: “I’m going to try to do 17 seconds, which I think is a world record for an 80-year-old.”
Stewart has been training on his estate on the private 100m track, with the aim of improving his current best time of 19 seconds. We can reveal a family member begged him about the ambition: “Don’t do it! We’re afraid your heart will literally explode.”
But hard-living Stewart is undeterred – despite recently being spotted drinking all day. The singer’s health has also been a concern in recent years.
In 2016, Stewart was diagnosed with prostate cancer, but he chose not to inform his children, saying, “I didn’t want to worry them, and now I’m completely clear.” He also underwent surgery in 2000 for a cancerous tumor in his thyroid, which he later discovered could have compromised his singing voice.
Last January, Stewart celebrated his 80th birthday with an elaborate 10-day yacht party, hosted by his wife, Penny Lancaster, 54. The celebration included themed costume nights, with one night dedicated to everyone dressing up as Stewart himself.
Reflecting on the event, he said: “We rented a huge yacht. It cost me a fortune. I don’t care, you only turn 80 once.’
