90-Year-Old Bodybuilder Eyes Return At 93

A 90-year-old Japanese bodybuilder, Toshisuke Kanazawa, has competed against athletes decades younger than him at an international bodybuilding competition in Spain, showing that age has not stopped his passion for fitness.

Kanazawa travelled to Santa Susanna, a coastal town on Spain’s Costa del Maresme, to compete in the masters category for athletes aged 50 and above. The International Fitness and Bodybuilding Federation held the competition on Friday.

Despite his age, Kanazawa followed the same preparations as younger competitors. He warmed up with his team backstage and applied spray tan before taking to the stage.

“I like to try doing things that nobody else has done, and more than anything I want to pursue bodybuilding for the rest of my life,” he said.

Kanazawa credits his fitness and long life to a strict diet that he has followed for decades. He said he has built muscle since turning 50 by eating traditional Japanese meals.

“This is something I’ve been researching and want to learn more about. But ever since I turned 50, I’ve been building muscle by eating a purely Japanese diet: brown rice, natto (a fermented soya bean dish), and miso soup,” he said.

“It’s really the classic Japanese way of eating. And thanks to that, I’ve gone 90 years without ever getting sick.”

Although he didn’t finish on the podium, Kanazawa remains determined to keep competing. He is already considering another appearance at 93 before retiring from the sport.

“I’m thinking I might give it one more go at 93. After that, I’ll probably have to retire,” he said.

He also spoke about the physical changes that come with ageing, including wrinkles, and how society views older people.

“As you get older, you start developing wrinkles, quite a lot of them. In Japan, there’s this idea that once you get those wrinkles, it just doesn’t look very good anymore,” he said.

However, Kanazawa hopes his dedication will encourage older people to stay active and pursue their goals.

“Once you set your mind to something, you need to develop the mental strength and determination to see it through no matter what,” he said.

“I want people to work hard just as I have. I believe that if they do, we’ll see more people like me even as they get older. That’s what I hope for, and I want to be a good role model,” he added.