Steel-willed: 71-year-old Chinese grandmother becomes fitness icon after winning national medal

WUHAN, CHINA: At 71, most seniors are likely to spend their golden years sipping tea or taking strolls. But for Sun Minghui, a strong-willed grandmother from Ma’anshan, Anhui province, life is only just ramping up — quite literally.

According to a recent South China Morning Post (SCMP) report, Sun surprised viewers at the 2025 Wuhan National Fitness Newcomers Quality Competition as she won third place in the mixed-gender division. What’s more astounding, she was also the oldest competitor in the entire competition.

Before taking time to blossom as a fitness star, Sun was employed in the dining hall of a steel factory. Although her occupation was tough and demanding, she never lost her enthusiasm for staying physically active. “Even then, I always made time to move,” she recalled.

It wasn’t until she gave up work that Sun started seriously exploring athletics and physical fitness. She experimented in cycling, hiking, jogging, and jumping rope — but at age 67, she levelled up and took things to high gear. She began proper strength exercise, activating a change that would ultimately gain her national recognition — and a rock-solid six-pack.

“After just over a month, I started seeing changes. My biceps popped, my lats took shape. I didn’t lose muscle with age — I gained it,” Sun said, her eyes glowing with pride. “That gave me the confidence to keep going.”

At present, Sun gets into training five times a week, clocking in for more than an hour every session. Her controlled regimen includes a high-protein diet, eating up to five egg whites a day, low-sugar, low-oil, low-salt meals. But her methods are not about extremes.

“I always say seniors should work out at 70 per cent effort,” she recommends. “Progress should be gradual and injury-free. Fitness isn’t about pushing limits — it’s about living better.”

Certainly, Sun is living proof. Besides strength training, she’s also a cycling aficionado. In 2014, at the age of 60, she cycled from China’s easternmost point to its southernmost city, Sanya — an overwhelming 6,316 kilometres within just 45 days, earning a Guinness World Record with her club.

Her message to fellow seniors? “Age is just a number, not a limitation,” she stated. “Some say we should just relax in retirement. But I want something more. I want to lift dumbbells and let my muscles do the talking.”

Sun’s story has gone viral on Chinese social media, rousing netizens across generations. One commenter wrote, “This is amazing. When seniors stay healthy, it’s a blessing for their children, too. Her kids must be so proud of her!”

“Ageing is inevitable,” she says, “but exercise can transform your body and your mind. It’s never too late to take control of your health.”

With strengths of steel, a heart full of passion, and a resolute mindset, Sun Minghui is redefining retirement and what it means to grow old.