Tim Minnick is the oldest fitness instructor on the planet, according to Guinness World Records. (Photo: Facebook/Timanic)
This 81-year-old proves that age is just a number. Tim Minnick of Austin, Texas, has been recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as the world’s oldest fitness instructor.
Tim started working as a trainer at the age of 73 and has held the record for the past four years.
“I always tell people, ‘I’m in the Guinness Book of World Records.’ I didn’t actually do anything to do it. I just got older,” he says.
Tim started going to the gym after losing his wife in 2007. (Photo: Facebook/timaminnick)
When his wife passed away in 2007, he needed something to do, so he turned to fitness.
“I wanted to do something that made me feel like I was contributing to someone,” Tim said in an interview with Guinness World Records.
“And all of a sudden you’re like, ‘I was working out anyway.’ It’s pretty hard at that point. And I was waking up early every day and working out and stuff like that. So I thought, why don’t I just become a trainer?” I thought so.”
After Tim qualified as a fitness instructor, he had trouble finding work because the gym owner thought he was too old. But Tim was serious about helping others live an active life, and he never gave up.
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He managed to get a job at Gold’s Gym. Its customers are mainly people over 50.
Tim was an “easy hire,” said gym manager Aaron Gillum.
“And I’m glad he walked through the door.”
Tim also caters to younger customers. But having started his own fitness journey late in life, he is passionate about reaching his older generation.
“We start losing muscle mass around the age of 35, and if we don’t take steps to maintain it, by the time we’re 75 we’re no longer in a healthy state,” he says.
Tim says anyone can become healthy, no matter their age. (Photo: Facebook/Timanic)
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He admitted that he was nervous about starting his new job.
“The first day of work [at Gold’s] with many people [who] I was worried because she was less than half my age. Am I going to fit in? Would I be able to do that at this stage in my life? ” he says.
But his age actually worked in his favor, as people began to think that if Tim could exercise and get healthy, then so could they.
“Most people automatically think that as they get older they can’t do this or that anymore, but to be honest, that might be the case for some people[with injuries],” Tim said. says. “But they can do a lot more than they think.”
Sources: GUINNESSWORLDRECORDS.COM, AUSTINFITMAGAZINE.COM, THE-SUN.COM