After 20 years of training, a 55-year-old woman made her splash on a bodybuilding stage, winning her first title in the sport with a physique 30-year-olds would be envious of. Wang Jianrong, known as ‘Muscle Grandma’ on social media, wowed spectators in China and is motivating others to reach their fitness goals.
Jianrong has been a fitness enthusiast for years and owns her own gym in Shanghai. She embarked on her fitness journey with hopes to improve her posture while adding strength for other sporting disciplines. To win the bodybuilding contest in March, she admitted to training almost two hours in the gym six days a week.
At the event, her aesthetic shape kept her in the spotlight. She thrived under pressure and wants this triumph to inspire anyone determined to improve their health and fitness. She also shows that age is just a number and that it’s possible to prove age stereotypes wrong.
“I do not let age limit me. Only when I become stronger, can love myself and my family more,” she said.
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55-Year-Old ‘Muscle Grandma’ Wins First Bodybuilding Contest In China
Making her dream a reality, Jianrong focused on strength gains and maintaining her physique. She revealed that one challenge she encountered was keeping a body fat percentage in the 12-15% range.
“There are things more important than looking young. I look old but I am healthy,” she shared.
While sarcopenia, or the loss of muscle mass, strength, and mobility as we age, can be a limiting factor, Jianrong never let that stop her from success onstage. In addition, she’s improved all of her major lifts, including a deadlift of 280 pounds, a squat of 209 pounds, and a 159-pound bench press.
“Do not wait for the perfect timing to start training. You must start acting, even just doing 10 push-ups every day,” Wang said.
Jianrong has also used training to help with her anxiety. Even though bodybuilding preps can make competitors on edge due to the dietary and training demands expected, she refused to let it affect her close relationship with her son. She mentioned that learning to appreciate solitude helped her find success.
Jianrong hasn’t been the only grandma keen on maintaining her fitness. Robin Hills, a grandmother of three, boasts 17-inch biceps. Between lifting heavy and eating clean, she continues to prioritize her health and mobility despite getting older.
The beauty of a sport like bodybuilding is that anyone can try it out, regardless of age. Jianrong aims to inspire individuals, stressing that age should never be a limiting factor when it comes to keeping your strength and vitality.
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