Story of the World’s Oldest Bodybuilder: 91-Y.O. Fitness Grandpa Inspiring Millions

Gold’s Gym has been the home for some of history’s greatest bodybuilders, including the world’s oldest bodybuilder. 91-year-old Guinness World Record holder Jim Arrington’s story is one of beating the odds. From the moment he came into this world till today, James ‘Jim’ Arrington has made it a habit to defy expectations. Today, the bodybuilding and fitness icon is a source of inspiration for millions.

The Guinness World Records awarded Jim Arrington the title of the oldest bodybuilder in 2022. Born on September 1, 1932, Arrington earned his record at 90 years 38 days old on October 9, 2022. Almost a year after winning the title, Arrington continues his fitness journey inspiring countless people every time he competes.

Defeating frailty through fitness

During his exclusive interview with Guinness World Records, the bodybuilder said he had seen adversity since taking his first breath. You know, I was born a month and a half premature. I weighed five and a half pounds, and my parents struggled and struggled to save me,” confessed the 91-year-old fitness icon. They succeeded, but Arrington grew up frail.

Throughout his childhood, the bodybuilder suffered from diseases and frequently fell ill. However, in 1947, James Arrington grew tired of his frailty. He was done falling sick and wanted to change his life. So, the then-teenager turned to fitness. “Wanted to be a superhero,” said the 91-year-old.

After a few years of training, his passion for fitness grew and became a hunger for competition. With the rise of bodybuilding legends like Steve Reeves in the late 40s, Arrington got inspired to pursue the sport competitively. After over half a century, the champion still trains and competes in bodybuilding shows. Throughout his competitive career, Arrington has won many titles.

The bodybuilder has so many titles he forgot which ones he won and which ones he placed in the top three. During the interview with Guinness World Records, he checked a few trophies to see if they were first-place trophies. However, an overflowing cabinet full of bodybuilding titles hasn’t satisfied Arrington’s competitive itch.

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The fitness fanatic competed in the 2023 IFBB Masters World Pro Championship in September 2023. Arrington won the over 80 and over 90 categories, taking home two titles. However, you might wonder how and why the 91-year-old still manages to push his limits and win shows.

Fitness is adaptability for Jim Arrington

After winning the 2023 IFBB Masters World Pro Championship, Arrington said he still competes because he wants to hold on to his world record. The bodybuilder said he needed to be an actively competing IFBB Pro for the record to stay valid. However, while chasing the record might motivate him today, his love for fitness and the love people showed him kept him going for decades.

“What inspires me is the people that come up and say I Inspire them,” the 91-year-old said during the interview. The bodybuilder is also a testament to long-term fitness and longevity. However, his recipe to success doesn’t contain any secret formulas. Instead, he had a simple message for those looking to be fitter at any age.

“What works for a person at one time in their life isn’t the same… That’s the whole thing about bodybuilding, it’s adaption,” said Arrington. While the bodybuilder could lift heavy weights and output more volume when he was younger, his physiology had definitely changed now. The fitness fanatic has lost muscle and strength. So, he has adapted his lifestyle for optimum results.

How the oldest bodybuilder trains and eats at 91

Instead of taking rest periods between sets, Arrington “holds the weight,” after ten reps. Repeating this cycle with each exercise creates “the burn,” according to the bodybuilder. The fitness enthusiast has also changed his diet. Arrington used to drink a lot of milk and eat a lot of meat when he was younger.

However, in his 90s, the bodybuilder has also adapted his diet to suit his metabolism. Today, he eats more olive oil, mushrooms, and nutrient-rich veggies to keep going to the gym and recover. The 91-year-old competitive bodybuilder left his ego behind with his youth and focused on fitness and longevity to keep competing.

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Jim Arrington is truly one of a kind with abilities that are so staggering that the competitive bodybuilder often finds himself without a competitor in the above-90 age category. So, with the ability to beat men younger than him and inspire millions in the process, Arrington is a fitness icon like no other.