Most people slow down long before they turn 90. Toshisuke Kanazawa did the opposite. One day after his 90th birthday, the Japanese bodybuilder stepped onto a stage in Hiroshima, going head-to-head with competitors decades younger than him. What happened next has the internet doing a double take. 

The event was Hiroshima's annual veteran bodybuilding competition, drawing roughly 200 athletes aged 41 to 90 across 13 categories. Kanazawa competed in the toughest bracket of them all, the 85-and-over division, facing six rivals just a day after turning 90. 

After a shared preliminary routine, the finals came down to a one-minute free-posing showcase for each competitor. Kanazawa's turn brought the crowd to its feet, and when his name was announced as the winner, he didn't hold back his joy, saying he plans to keep chasing world records. 

Kanazawa first competed as a young man, stepped away from the sport at 34, and didn't return until he was 50, a comeback inspired in part by his wife, who was struggling with health issues at the time and found joy watching him compete. Even after she passed away, Kanazawa never stopped taking the stage. 

While talking to CNN in an interview as reported by Hindustan Times, Kanazawa admitted he often wonders if his wife is watching from above whenever his name gets called at a competition, a thought he credits with pushing him to keep chasing the top spot. 

However, it was his spectacular win in Japan that caught the internet's attention. 

Bodybuilding community reacts to 90-year-old bodybuilder's win

Under the post shared by Complex on their Instagram, several fans took to the comment section to share their thoughts about the 90-year-old winning the competition. 

One fan shared his disbelief about Toshisuke Kanazawa’s conditioned physique. They commented, 

"He’s EXTREMELY conditioned & muscular for his age!"

Another fan commented that this story inspired them to not skip the gym. They wrote, 

"I was considering skipping the gym today… not anymore" 

One fan echoed similar sentiments as they commented under the post, 

"If a 90 year old can get in shape and stay in shape so can a lot of others." 

A fan also commented about how Toshisuke Kanazawa has maintained his physique over the years. They wrote, 

"I know people at 40 who don't look that great"

While another fan couldn't believe the 90-year-old competed against the younger competitors. They commented, 

"Grandpa can give anyone a run for their money."

Kanazawa's win didn't just earn him another title, it earned him a whole new fan base cheering him on to the next one.

Written by

Chionia Libania Colaco