Not Your Average Grandpa! This 87yo Japanese Man Is The World’s Oldest Ironman

Would you still have the passion to build up your body when you’re old?

Hiromu Inada, an 87-year-old Japanese man has earned the title of the World’s Oldest Ironman from Guinness World Record. He’s not stopping here as he still wishes to continue competing in his 90s. Because of his determination and passion for challenging the norms, he has been receiving a lot of attention lately.

The title was obtained when he competed in the Ironman World Championship at Kailua-Kona, Hawaii back in 2018. At the age of 85 years old, Inada set the new mark as the oldest competitor.

What’s the Ironman World Championship? 

Ironman World Championship is an annual competition held in Hawaii since 1978 and is owned by World Triathlon Corporation (WTC). It is considered one of the toughest endurance sports events as the competitors are required to swim 3.86km, bike 180.25km and run a total of 42.19km marathon.

2020: The Year Of Covid-19

Well, if you’re thinking this grandpa may give up as Covid-19 has cancelled this year’s Ironman championship (October), then you’re absolutely wrong! Our grandpa here is still working hard by maintaining his training schedule to prepare himself for the competition next year. He wakes up at 4:30 am to train every day and he goes to the swimming pool by 6 am.

“My goal is next year’s world championship in Hawaii,” he told Reuters at his training facility in Chiba, east of Tokyo, as reported by Channel News Asia.

“I will absolutely participate in it, and I want to break the world record of completing the race at the oldest age again. This is my current and biggest goal,” he added.

Inada wasn’t even an athlete before he stepped into the game

Surprisingly enough, he only started the sport in his retirement. After working as a public broadcaster for NHK, he began running and swimming. He purchased a bike at the age of 69. He became obsessed with competitions after the death of his wife.

Failed The First Time He Participated 

When this Japanese grandpa joined the competition in 2015, he didn’t succeed. He was only short of five seconds to be officially registered. Thanks to the overwhelming support from the Hawaiian public, Inada participated again in the following year and managed to complete the race in the qualifying time. Kudos!

“But since then, I have in my mind that I absolutely cannot give up, and I absolutely must complete (Ironman races), otherwise I feel sorry for those who support me.”

All the best in the upcoming competitions, grandpa! 

Also read: Watch: 75-Year-Old Grandpa Shows Off His Mad Boxing Skills