“Unicycle Granny” becomes the oldest to ride at age 69: “May all your days be a circus!”

When Linda Jarrett (USA) was 13 years old, you could spot the athletic teen whizzing around the suburban streets in her neighbourhood atop a 6 ft (1.8 m)-tall unicycle.

Yet nearly six decades later, she’s still riding!

This incredible performer – nicknamed the “Unicycle Granny” –  has made a name for herself over the last 50 years thanks to her sure-footed circus skills. 

With a career spanning stunt double work in Hollywood, to trapeze shows at the theatre, Linda has worked in a variety of acrobatic roles throughout her life – though the one thing she always has beside her is her trusty unicycle. 

As such, the 2 ft (0.6 m)-tall, one-wheeled contraption was in her hand when she took the stage in Lindsay, California last December for a production of The Nutcracker, at the incredible age of 69 years and 189 days old. Peddling through the party scene while dressed in a red wig and clown costume, she gleefully glided to the opposite curtain to re-break her Guinness World Records title for the oldest unicycle rider (female) on Earth.

Linda broke her first record back in January 2023, at the age of 66 years and 234 days, when she cycled across a stage in Tulare, California with a little girl atop her shoulders.

“I LOVE performing,” she said to GWR. “[I] still do! I love to make people happy and make them smile, or even better, laugh!”

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The graceful granny told us that she got her start as a unicyclist at the age of 10, alongside her sisters Donna and Debbie at their home in Arlington Heights, Illinois. Her dad had gifted her the toy for her birthday, and the group had a blast riding it alongside several other kids on her block.

“I was enrolled in a dancing school back then, where the acrobatic group was something I liked so much,” she said. “My dad got me a 24-inch Schwinn unicycle which I still have, and I use it all the time. 

“I was eventually the choreographer of the acrobatics group, and I turned it into a circus! We had a unicycle act that we did in the dance recitals during the acrobatic part of the show…” she explained. “It was SO much fun!”

Seeing his daughter’s passion for the unicycle, Linda’s dad got her a giant upgrade for her 13th birthday – and we mean literally. 

The thoughtful father gifted her a 6 ft (1.8 m)-tall unicycle, which she excitedly rode everywhere, including at dance recitals. 

Linda performing when she was younger on her giant unicycle

Naturally, the gift only encouraged Linda to follow the performing arts, and when she entered college she enrolled at Florida State University to perform in their flying circus.

“Anything that involved flipping, twisting or unicycles… I was in!” she said.

After learning how to juggle, she was permitted on to the trapeze – and Linda adored performing her solo act, particularly the parts where she “scared the audience half-to-death”. 

Her passion followed her out of university, as she continued to perform on the trapeze and unicycle for various circuses until she received a fateful call urging her to come out to Hollywood and work as a stunt double. 

“I was actually flying when the stars were eating lunch,” she remarked, reflecting on her 10-year career in LA and her stint coaching for the TV show Circus of the Stars. While flipping around for the cameras, she had been able to meet dozens of famous faces – her personal favourite being Tony Dow, the star of the 1960s sitcom Leave it to Beaver. 

As Linda got older, her love for performing never dwindled – and throughout her moves around California, she continued to ride her unicycle in various musical productions and community theatre shows. 

She also always encouraged the younger generations to follow in her footsteps – whether that be on the bike, or on solid ground – by working in youth dance centres, establishing children’s circus shows, or literally hoisting them on to her shoulders while she unicycling across the stage.

“I loved every minute of it,” she said. “We did shows everywhere. Sometimes I would join the kids in the show and sometimes they didn't need me so I helped, spotted and directed.”

Compared to riding a bike, Linda says the unicycle is fun but a lot of work – remarking that bicycles allow you to coast, but unicycles require constant engagement from the leg and core muscles. Even though she’s still in shape, at her age a fall could mean breaking a bone, so she always rides near a spotter. 

“For the entertainment end of it ALWAYS go with a unicycle… for a relaxing ride ALWAYS choose a bicycle!” she recommended, in addition to always wearing a helmet. 

Yet above all else, the best thing to have in your corner is a good support system – and Linda says she couldn’t have done it without the help from her dearly departed stunt coordinator Bobby Yerkes, her trainers and spotters, organizer Amanda Fiagle, and all of her family and friends. 

She even hopes to energize this support into a new record attempt in May, when she turns 70 years old.

“Advice I might have for people that want to unicycle is this… start VERY young and NEVER stop!” she said.

“Happy riding to all – may all your days be circus days!”