White (69) demonstrated this yesterday in the 21km walk on a gruelling circuit on the Taieri Plains.
She will also contest the 5km and 10km walk this week in her 13th New Zealand Masters Games.
White grew up in a county that produced cricket greats Sir Len Hutton, Geoff Boycott and Freddie Truman and Prime Minister Harold Wilson and had a tradition of excellence and a dogged, never-give-in attitude.
But there was not much opportunity for girls to develop their sporting talents when she was growing up.
"We played rounders at school but that was about it," she said.
"But I used to sit on the couch and watch sport on television."
She did not become competitive until she entered the Masters Games for the first time in Dunedin in 1994.
"It was just a social event for me then," she said.
"I wore funny clothes and did line dancing.
Training was a joke for me then.
"I trained as a dancer when I was young", she said.
"I was told I could have become a top-level race walker but it was not a sport for girls when I was aged 16."
It is different now.
Training is a godsend for White and gets her out of the house.
She walks five days a week around Dunedin streets.
"I do walk a lot," she said.
"I hope it inspires some people in my generation to get off the couch."
Her efforts were recognised at the official opening of the Games on Saturday night when she was one of four recipients of a life award.
The others were Marinus Boon (indoor rowing), Steve Prescott (swimming) and Barry van Gorp (football).
"I've never won an award before," White said.
"Nothing like that has ever happened to me.
I can't really put my feelings into words.
It was a surprise to me.
"You have no idea what it has done for my confidence.
It is awesome getting an award for something I enjoy doing."
White has a friend who works on the Bradford Telegraph in England and expects to have an article about her award in the Yorkshire newspaper.
She has found the Masters Games an inspiration over the last 16 years.
"People get together for sport, fitness, friendship and fun," she said.
"I would urge people to get out there and do it."
White has won numerous gold medals for her walking prowess but she regards that as a bonus.
"It takes mental effort to get out there and do it," she said.
"It is not easy to walk fast for a long way.
It is a matter of getting over the mental barrier."
