With her expression of “strength and beauty” that captivated the internet, 72-year-old Lin Suitsou proves that the golden age can be the most powerful. Lin, a “grandmother of five children” and one of Taiwan’s oldest active female bodybuilders, became the face of a burgeoning fitness movement when she won first place in the 70+ category at the 2025 President’s Cup Bodybuilding & Fitness Championships. Also read | An 80-year-old grandma doesn’t just survive, she thrives on five days in the gym, 90-minute workouts, and a high-protein diet.
Strength and grace on stage
In a March 8 Instagram video shared by Taiwan Plus News documenting her journey, Lin can be seen commanding the stage with a poise that belies her age. She radiates confidence in a shimmering purple bikini as she stands in front of the judges. Her physique is a testament to years of disciplined work. Her legs are well-sculpted, her core is toned, and her back shows the deep, well-defined muscle lines typical of elite athletes.
Throughout the video, she strikes a series of obligatory poses. Stretch your arms to emphasize your triceps, twist to show your back symmetry, and keep that ever-radiant smile on your face. In one emotional moment, she was seen with concentration etched on her face as she did an intense workout at the gym.
“I remember wanting to wear a bikini when I was a kid and in my 20s,” Lin said in an interview with TaiwanPlus News. “But back then, society was more conservative, so there didn’t seem to be many opportunities to wear it. I’m already 72 years old…and I can stand on stage and show my strength and show my beauty,” she added.
lead by example
Lin’s path to the podium reportedly didn’t start in the gym, but in the clinic. For many years, she worked as a diabetes educator in Taipei, advising patients on managing their chronic disease. According to a 2025 Scmp.com report, she often encountered resistance from older adults who found exercise too difficult or too time-consuming.
At 69 years old, she decided to stop talking and start taking action. To better understand the strength training she recommended to her patients, she began training six days a week, focusing on muscle definition and bone density. “I thought weight training was just about building huge muscles, but I quickly realized it was more about health and toned muscles,” she told Taiwan-based Common Health Magazine, according to Scmp.com.
Lin added, “When you gain muscle, you exhibit a kind of powerful beauty. You gain confidence. That kind of beauty feels like it radiates from your heart because you have confidence and dignity in yourself.”
Despite social pressure to conform to standards of “thinness and femininity” in East Asia, Lin is undaunted. Besides weight training, she remains active as a painter, yoga practitioner, and ballroom dancer. “Even as I get older, I hope to be able to teach people in nursing homes how to draw, dance and lift weights,” she said.
“I hope I can stay healthy even when I’m 72.”
The response to Lin’s journey was a wave of digital praise. Instagram users who responded to TaiwanPlus News’ video noted that she looked “decades younger,” and many praised her for her “faceplate” and her role as a “beautiful example of aging powerfully.”
One person commented: “I hope I can stay this healthy even when I’m 72.” Another wrote: “She is unbelievably beautiful. Can’t believe she’s in her 70s.” One commenter said, “Wow, you look like you’re in your 40s!”
Note to readers: This report is based on user-generated content from social media. HT.com has not independently verified or endorses this claim.
This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice.
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