Bodybuilding inculcates discipline and a champion mindset in its practitioners while rewarding them with a ripped physique. While the ultimate glory of a bodybuilding champion is to win the Mr. Olympia title, the sport can be rewarding in other ways if one persists in training even as one ages. 91-year-old Jim Arrington is famous in the bodybuilding community as the oldest professional bodybuilder ever.

In 2015 Jim Arrington entered record books as the World’s Oldest bodybuilder at 83. Years later, the bodybuilding enigma still trains at the gym to retain his elite title. One can find the California-based bodybuilder competing at Master bodybuilding events and winning titles. But what led to Arrington’s passion for bodybuilding? 

Jim Arrington’s bodybuilding journey started for fitness and health

In his childhood, Arrington suffered from asthma and frequently fell ill. Running more than 15 yards without gasping was a big task for the young boy. But his life would change forever when he came across a bodybuilding magazine at 13 during the 1940s. The big muscles of the bodybuilders intrigued the little boy. “Even their forearms were massive, just like Popeye. Everything else was huge, too,” Arrington recounted his thrill to find the magazine.

Arrington understood what could help him stay fit and healthy and invested 25 cents on Molding a Mighty Chest book by George Jowett. He made most of his dad’s three-pound steel balls for his initial training sessions. In a few months, the results were evident as he gained almost 10 pounds of muscle and went from 115 to 128 pounds. However, being healthy was not the only reason Arrington embarked on the bodybuilding journey. 

“I decided that I was interested in girls around this time, and working out would be helpful in that department!” disclosed the bodybuilding veteran. But eventually, all other reasons faded as he fell in love with training at the gym. Despite loving bodybuilding all his life, Arrington only started competing in shows much later.

Genetics played spoilsport with Arrington

The sport of bodybuilding depends on multiple aspects. While training and dieting norms can be adhered to, the genetics part is something one can’t really do anything about. The sport often rewards athletes who train hard and have the best genetic makeup, like Ronnie Coleman. But Arrington scored negative on the genetics aspect.

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Despite aiming for Mr. America, Arrington realized he lacked bodybuilding genetics. “My goal was to be Mr. America. But after five years, I saw I didn’t really have the genetics,” he confessed in an interview with Men’s Health. However, he wasn’t disheartened by this as he deciphered the secret of bodybuilding from the 1975 Mr. Universe, Ken Waller. “He told me to do what works for you. I thought, Well, thanks a lot. But that is essentially what you’ve got to do—experiment to see what works for you,” the oldest bodybuilder revealed.

Arrington’s competitive bodybuilding debut happened at 45

It took a while for Arrington to compete in the bodybuilding arena. Competing at the Mecca of Bodybuilding, the Gold’s Gym didn’t help the veteran gain enough confidence to go pro before 45. Arrington believed his bone structure and genetics would hinder his success on stage. However, in 1978, he debuted at the Mr. America contest, posing for the 40+ category. The retired salesman won the Most Muscular title and was placed overall 2nd among 15 competitors in that show.

Arrington’s first bodybuilding show instilled him with much-needed confidence, and the oldest bodybuilder continues to compete at 91. As of 2017, Arrington won 16 shows and competed in over 60 bodybuilding shows. But recently, in his category, he has been the sole participant. Here are some competitions that he has won:

Masters National Championships, Overall 1st place, 2014 

Masters National Championships, Bodybuilding Masters Overall, 2013

Junior California Bodybuilding, Figure, and Bikini Championships, Men 60+, 2009

 “I have small bones and I would never be able to put on the size to become Mr. America, so I guess my strategy was to outlive and outweigh everybody by waiting until everybody grew up or died!” revealed Arrington to People. But how is he training in his early 90s?

The cautious training regime of the 90-year-old

The bodybuilding veteran has been training for 75 years now, which is a lifetime for many. However, his passion for training never took a back seat. While he started it to overcome health issues, Arrington continues to train to keep inspiring people. However, he was very cautious about the process. “At my age, your body’s a lot more fragile. You have to be more careful when you’re training, and you can’t abuse it—your tendons have a tendency to want to detach,” the 91-year-old confessed to Men’s Health last year.

Despite taking necessary precautions, he tore his left and right bicep during the last five years. But that ain’t stopping the bodybuilder from training and competing. “I usually exercise two to three times a week for about an hour, and it’s a full body workout,” he told People in 2017. However, his latest training regime focuses on a split routine. 

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“I cut the body up in three sections: For instance, I would do legs on Monday. And mid-body, including the abs, chest, and the lower and middle back on Wednesday. And then I do shoulders and arms on Friday,” he explained in 2022. One month before the competition, he would follow a high-protein, high-fat and low-carbohydrate diet.

Jim Arrington’s story is an inspiration to every fitness enthusiast, as his life reflects an unparalleled love for training. He has perfectly proved that bodybuilding isn’t a sport but a lifestyle. Don’t you think so? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.