Honestly, if you’re scrolling through Instagram and happen to see a photo of Lara Spencer on a beach, it’s hard not to do a double-take. The Good Morning America co-anchor has been a staple on morning TV for years, but lately, it’s her off-screen life that’s grabbing all the headlines. Specifically, a certain Lara Spencer bikini photo she shared for her husband Rick McVey’s birthday in July 2025. It wasn't just another celebrity vacation snap. It was a full-on moment. She was rocking a lemon-patterned string bikini that, frankly, put people half her age to shame.
She's 56.
But here’s the thing—Lara doesn't just "wake up like this." Her physique is the result of a very specific, somewhat grueling, but surprisingly balanced lifestyle that she’s been pretty open about. She’s not just a talking head in a blazer; she’s a former All-American athlete who has survived some serious physical setbacks.
The Athlete DNA Behind the Photos
To understand how she stays in such incredible shape, you have to go back to her days at Penn State. People forget she wasn't always a journalist. She was a competitive diver on a full athletic scholarship. We’re talking springboard and platform diving—sports that require insane core strength and explosive power. That kind of "muscle memory" doesn't just evaporate when you start a career in news.
Even now, she treats her body like an engine. She told Parade that she views sports as the ultimate workout. She isn't a "gym rat" in the traditional sense. You won't usually find her grinding away on a treadmill for two hours in a dark basement. Instead, she’s out on the tennis court.
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Her Go-To Fitness Pillars
- Tennis: She’s obsessed. She plays on a USTA team and has a 4.0 rating. That’s not a "hobby" level; that’s "I will crush you in singles" level.
- Swimming: Given her diving background, she goes back to the water to clear her head. She describes lap swimming as a "meditative state."
- Yoga: This is her secret weapon for longevity, especially in the winter. She prefers a warm room to keep her joints supple.
- Dog Walking: She’s got three rescue pups—Riva, Coco, and Dottie. Walking them twice a day is her non-negotiable way to get those extra steps in.
Facing the "Old Person's Problem"
It hasn't all been smooth sailing, though. If you look closely at some of her photos, you might see the small scars of resilience. In 2016, at age 47, Lara had to undergo a total hip replacement. For an athlete, that’s a terrifying prospect. She actually admitted on GMA that she was "embarrassed" at first. She thought hip replacements were for the elderly, not for active moms in their 40s.
It turns out she had hip dysplasia, a genetic condition where the hip socket doesn't fully cover the ball portion of the upper thigh bone. This causes the joint to wear out much faster.
Then, just recently in late 2024 and early 2025, she was back in the hospital for double foot surgery. One was a "clean up" from a previous procedure, but the other was to fix a shattered joint from an old college diving injury. She spent weeks in a "not so cute" orthopedic boot.
The reason people find the Lara Spencer bikini photos so inspiring isn't just because she looks fit; it’s because she’s a bionic woman who keeps coming back. She’s been very vocal about "demystifying" these surgeries. She wants people to know that a hip replacement or foot surgery isn't the end of your active life—it’s the restart button.
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The Spandex and the Winter Games
Fast forward to December 2025, and Lara was seen in Lake Placid, New York, prepping for the 2026 Winter Olympics. She wasn't in a bikini this time, obviously. She was in a skin-tight blue spandex bodysuit with stars on it. Fans went wild. Why? Because at 56, she’s still game to try bobsledding and cross-country skiing.
She’s got this infectious energy where she doesn't take herself too seriously. She’ll post a photo of herself looking "groggy" post-surgery right next to a photo of her looking like a supermodel in Venice. It’s that authenticity that makes the "perfect" bikini shots feel earned rather than manufactured.
What She Actually Eats
She’s surprisingly chill about her diet. No "almond mom" vibes here. She’s gone on record saying she isn't strict.
"Life is too short," she says.
She focuses on "eating right" most of the time—lots of fresh greens and lean protein—but she loves an espresso martini. She’s also a fan of "naughty" treats here and there. Her philosophy is basically: if you move enough, you can eat the cake.
Why This Matters for Women Over 50
The conversation around aging in Hollywood is changing, and Lara is at the forefront of it. She’s proving that the mid-50s can be your strongest decade. She’s not trying to look 20; she’s trying to be the best 56-year-old version of herself.
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She often talks about "restoration and renewal." It’s a theme in her HGTV shows like Everything But the House and Flea Market Flip, where she finds beauty in old, worn-out things. It’s clearly a philosophy she applies to herself, too. You fix the hip, you fix the foot, you keep moving.
Actionable Wellness Takeaways
If you want to channel a bit of that Spencer energy, you don't need a TV contract or a professional diving coach. You just need a bit of her "get moving" mindset.
- Find a "Forever Sport": Lara pivoted from diving (high impact, short shelf life) to tennis and swimming. Find a sport you can play until you're 80.
- Don't Ignore Chronic Pain: She waited too long to address her hip. If your joints are screaming, see a specialist. Modern surgery is designed to get you back on the court, not keep you on the couch.
- Core is King: Whether it’s yoga or paddleboarding, a strong core protects your spine and joints as you age. It’s the foundation of that "toned" look people notice in her swimwear.
- Embrace the Spandex: Or the bikini. Or the bold dress. Confidence comes from the work you put in, not the number on your birth certificate.
Lara Spencer’s journey shows that being "bikini ready" is really just about being "life ready." It’s about having the strength to travel the world, the stamina to host a 2-hour live show, and the resilience to bounce back from the operating table.
Your next move? Check out Lara’s favorite yoga stretches or look up a local USTA tennis league to start building that functional strength today.