While most people are already planning their retirements at 50, the world’s oldest bodybuilder, Andy Bostinto, is busy making history. At 100, he is still busy lifting weights, competing on stage, and offering bodybuilding tips to fans.

“I enjoy training, and people ask me when I am going to stop. I tell them, I’ll stop when I stop breathing,” Bostinto exclaimed, as per a Muscle and Fitness article.

A World War II veteran, Bostinto began his bodybuilding journey at the tender age of 12. By 16, he had already begun posing for bodybuilding magazines, and he knew he was never going to stop. Alongside training, he served in the military for 29 years, always keeping bodybuilding as a constant in his life.

Soon enough, Bostinto began training others, spreading his knowledge and love for bodybuilding. According to Muscle & Fitness, some of his major Hollywood clients included Sir Patrick Stewart, Regis Philbin, and Al Pacino.

Before long, he founded the National Gym Association (NGA) in 1979, promoting natural bodybuilding and providing fair competition opportunities.

However, Bostinto’s passion for bodybuilding went beyond training. The war veteran also spoke to numerous groups, in prisons, and at schools, sharing his advice and guidance on the benefits of fitness.

While turning heads at 100 is a remarkable feat, Bostinto believes that he must pass on his hard-earned wisdom to aspiring bodybuilders.

Three lessons from a centenarian bodybuilder

After training for nearly nine decades, Bostinto has gathered immense knowledge, experience, and wisdom. At 100, he continues training five to six days a week and is always eager to share his wealth of knowledge.

As per the same Muscle & Fitness article, Bostinto shared three major pieces of advice for fitness enthusiasts of any age. These include:

The power of visualization

Like Schwarzenegger, Bostinto believes in the power of visualization. For him, mental preparation comes long before physical.

“You've got to pay attention to what you’re doing at all times, not wasting time looking at your cell phone. Visualize what you want, then put your mind into it as much as you do your muscles,” he explained.

This, he said, helps with the mind-muscle connection.

Don’t be afraid of making adjustments

While it’s important to push your body to its limits, you also need to listen to it. In case of pain or injuries, Bostinto advises making adjustments wherever necessary, but not using the pain as an excuse to give up.

First flex, then lift

Lastly, Bostinto advises you to flex your muscles before lifting weights. Although it might be more challenging to do reps this way, you will see the effects much better, he said.

Can you imagine stepping onto the bodybuilding stage when you are as old as Bostinto?

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Written by

Avantika Das

Edited by

Zaid Quraishi