The 96-year-old living dragon lifted 45 kilograms in the Tainan City Medical Silver Man Barbell Competition.

Who says you can’t lift barbells when you’re older? Tainan City Hospital promoted the "Healthy Taiwan Deepening Project" and held the "Youth on the Bar! Silver Hexagonal Barbell Fun Competition" through the "Muscle Factory Laboratory", attracting 42 seniors over 65 years old to sign up. The oldest contestant was a 96-year-old man who could lift 45 kilograms, and a 90-year-old grandmother who could also lift 40 kilograms. They showed the muscle strength and confidence accumulated through daily training, broke the stereotype that the elderly are not suitable for weight training, and also made more people aware of the importance of strength training for healthy aging.

The Municipal Hospital stated that this competition is divided into age and gender groups, including the "Vitality Experience Group" for those aged 65 to 69, the "Power Challenge Group" for those aged 70 to 74, and the "Power Master Group" for those aged 75 and above. In addition to students from the Muscle Factory Laboratory, the contestants also included seniors from senior fitness facilities in Kaohsiung’s Tianliao District and various community activity centers in Tainan City. Among them, there were 29 female contestants. We saw the enthusiasm of silver-haired women in strength training.

The competition uses the hexagonal barbell deadlift as a challenging event. Each participant can challenge up to 3 times. The weight is selected according to personal ability, and professional coaches and medical staff are on hand to assist in ensuring safety. The competition includes the "Explosive Power Award" and the "Steel Endurance Award", which are judged based on the highest weight successfully lifted in a single time and the sum of three successful weights respectively. This allows the elderly not only to challenge the weight, but also to see the results of their training.

As a result of the competition, the elders showed amazing muscle strength. In the women's group, Xu Xue'e from the "Vitality Experience Group" successfully challenged 90 kilograms, setting the highest single kilogram for the women's group; in the men's group, Zheng Xijiang from the "Power Master Group" successfully lifted 105 kilograms, setting a record for the highest score in the men's group.

In addition, the 91-year-old Su Yangniang successfully challenged 40 kilograms; the 96-year-old Shi Jinzhi even lifted 45 kilograms. Both were contestants in the "Superpower Master Group", showing off the strength and vitality of the elderly that should not be underestimated. This group of silver-haired warriors broke the stereotype that "you are too old to do heavy training" with practical actions. They successfully trained every day, proving that age is not a limitation in pursuing health and challenging themselves, and wrote the best commentary for healthy aging and active aging.

Cai Liangmin, director of Tainan City Hospital, said that as we age, muscle mass and strength gradually decrease, which may affect walking, going up and down stairs, and daily life functions. Many elders think that heavy training is not suitable for older people. In fact, as long as they undergo professional evaluation, step by step, and master the correct movements, the elderly can also do resistance exercises that suit them. This competition is not just about who can lift the most weight, but also hopes to help the elders build their confidence in sports, integrate muscle strength training into their lives, and maintain their ability to move independently.