Ninety-Year-Old Bodybuilder Competes in Spain

Toshisuke Kanazawa stepped onto the stage in Santa Susanna, Spain, on Friday to compete in bodybuilding. At 90 years old, the Japanese athlete entered the masters category for competitors aged 50 and older. The event was organized by the International Fitness and Bodybuilding Federation on the Costa del Maresme.

Kanazawa prepared backstage in the same manner as his younger opponents. He warmed up with his team and applied spray tan before taking his turn under the lights. He competed against rivals who are decades younger than him.

The athlete attributes his physical condition to a specific dietary routine established decades ago. He said he has built muscle since turning 50 by eating a purely Japanese diet. This includes brown rice, natto, and miso soup.

"It's really the classic Japanese way of eating. And thanks to that, I've gone 90 years without ever getting sick," Kanazawa said. He described the diet as something he has researched and continues to study.

Kanazawa did not finish on the podium at this competition. He plans to compete one more time before retiring from the sport. He expects to make that final appearance when he turns 93.

"I'm thinking I might give it one more go at 93. After that, I'll probably have to retire," he said. He noted that aging brings wrinkles, which he feels are less aesthetically pleasing in the context of bodybuilding.

The bodybuilder aims to show that mental strength allows older adults to remain active. He hopes his participation encourages others to work hard as they age. "I want people to work hard just as I have," Kanazawa said. He believes more people will look like him if they follow a similar path.