105-year-old Hidekichi Miyazaki, AKA Golden Bolt, broke the world sprinting record for his age range this year after running 100m in 42.22 seconds. Despite this amazing feat, the centenarian wasn’t happy with his numbers. He had hoped to complete it in 35 seconds. “I shed tears of disappointment because I was not in good condition. I am not satisfied with today’s time. But I am satisfied that I could cross finish line,” Miyazaki told Guiness World Records. SEE ALSO:Top 10 WWE Moments from 2015
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C.J. Cummings
2015 was a record-shattering year for 15-year-old C.J. Cummings. In August, Cummings set a national record at the 2015 USA Weightlifting National Championships by performing a 175 kg/385 lb clean and jerk. Just a month later, he took gold at the Youth Pan American Games with a total lift of 302 kg (clean and jerk 168 kg and snatch 134). With monster lifts like that, it’s no wonder The Wall Street Journal has dubbed him the “Lebron James” of the weightlifting world. SEE ALSO:The Most Stunning Iron Maidens of 2015
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Collin Clarke
Collin Clarke, an athlete with Down Syndrome, defied the odds when he competed in the Kentucky Muscle Bodybuilding Championship this year. Clarke has inspired many, including four-time Mr. Olympia Champ Jay Cutler. Cutler wasn’t at the event in Louisville, Kentucky, but after hearing of Clarke’s inspirational journey, he was sure to send a gift and a new bodybuilding mantra: chase the dream.
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Kristen Greist & Shaye Haver
For the first time in history, two women graduated from the United States Army Ranger school this year. Kristen Greist and Shaye Haver were among 20 other women and 381 when they started the program. In the end, that number drastically decreased to 2 women and 94 men. Army Ranger training is notorious for being one of the most grueling programs in the armed forces. As part of their physical fitness test, they had to complete 49 pushups, 59 sit-ups, and a 5-mile run all in 40 minutes. They also had to a swim test, a land navigation test, a 12-mile foot march in three hours, several obstacle courses, four days of military mountaineering, three parachute jumps, four air assaults on helicopters, and 27 days of mock combat patrols (along with other tests).
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dailymail.co.uk
Tatsiana Khvitsko
Tatsiana Khvitsko, an athlete with no legs and only 4 fingers, has defied the odds this year as she competed in her first bodybuilding competition. In the past, she has competed as a runner and in the future, she hopes to compete as a CrossFitter. As a result of Chernobyl radiation while in the womb, Tatsiana was born with physical disabilities and was abandoned by her parents after birth. However, she didn’t let that stop her from pursuing her dreams. She’s competed in a 5k run, 2 half-marathons and several other races. Since she only has four fingers, Tatsiana uses straps to lift weights and requires a safety box for squats. She stays positive despite her self-proclaimed frustrations and says, “Running made me realize that it was okay to be an amputee. And every time I put on my running blades I feel like a badass”.
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Don Pellmann
Don Pellmann, a 100-year-old Santa Clara resident crushed his competition and set 5 world records at this year’s San Diego Senior Olympics. Pellmann become the first centenarian to clear the bar in the high jump, reaching 2 feet, 11.5 inches. He also broke records in the long jump, 100-meter dash, shot put and discus. Despite these great achievements, Pellmann was disappointed with most of his scores. He was, however ecstatic about beating the 100-meter dash record by three seconds.
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Matt Klutka
Since December of 2013, Matt Klutka had been battling a rare form of cancer—leiomyosarcoma. In August of this year, doctors gave him only a few weeks to live, and has since passed. Despite his grim diagnosis, however, Klutka didn’t give up on his fitness lifestyle. An avid weightlifter, runner and snowboarder, he was in the weight room every day, even on his worst days. He serves as an inspiration to us all, reminding us that there’s always time to work on yourself.
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Daily Mail
Laura Payne
Laura Payne, a 32-year-old battling multiple eating disorders, has overcome the odds and competed in her first bodybuilding competition this year, nabbing the top spot. When she was in high school, Payne began battling anorexia and when she started college, it had worsened to battling both anorexia and bulimia. In 2002 she weighed only 82 pounds. Her parents realized how severe the issue was, took her out of school, and got her counseling. She now lives a healthier lifestyle, consuming 2,000 calories per day and working out in a gym she owns five days a week. She now weighs 150 pounds off-season and 125 during competition.
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Photography by Per Bernal
Janae Marie Kroc
This year, bodybuilder and world champion powerlifter formerly known as Matt Kroczaleski came out as a transgender woman and rocked the fitness world. Now known as Janae Marie Kroc, she says that she has always known that she was a woman on the inside but always loved the thrill of competition. Weightlifting gave her an escape, but going forward in her transition, Janae has no plans to continue powerlifting or bodybuilding. She serves as an inspiration for us to always follow our dreams.
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Willie Murphy
77-year-old Willie Murphy beat her own personal record this year on The Rachel Ray Show. The granny who weighs only 105 pounds had previously deadlifted 215 pounds. She beat her personal best by deadlifting a whopping 225 pounds, all while blowing kisses at the crowd. Not only can Murphy deadlift more than double her weight, she also does one-handed pushups and pullups. We’d say that’s something to be inspired by!
2015 was a year of record-breaking, odd-defying events that stunned and amazed the fitness world. From centenarian Olympians to teenaged bodybuilders, here is the rundown of the most inspirational figures we came across this year.
105-year-old Hidekichi Miyazaki, AKA Golden Bolt, broke the world sprinting record for his age range this year after running 100m in 42.22 seconds. Despite this amazing feat, the centenarian wasn’t happy with his numbers. He had hoped to complete it in 35 seconds. “I shed tears of disappointment because I was not in good condition. I am not satisfied with today’s time. But I am satisfied that I could cross finish line,” Miyazaki told Guiness World Records.
2015 was a record-shattering year for 15-year-old C.J. Cummings. In August, Cummings set a national record at the 2015 USA Weightlifting National Championships by performing a 175 kg/385 lb clean and jerk. Just a month later, he took gold at the Youth Pan American Games with a total lift of 302 kg (clean and jerk 168 kg and snatch 134). With monster lifts like that, it’s no wonder The Wall Street Journal has dubbed him the “Lebron James” of the weightlifting world.
Collin Clarke, an athlete with Down Syndrome, defied the odds when he competed in the Kentucky Muscle Bodybuilding Championship this year. Clarke has inspired many, including four-time Mr. Olympia Champ Jay Cutler. Cutler wasn’t at the event in Louisville, Kentucky, but after hearing of Clarke’s inspirational journey, he was sure to send a gift and a new bodybuilding mantra: chase the dream.
Kristen Greist & Shaye Haver
For the first time in history, two women graduated from the United States Army Ranger school this year. Kristen Greist and Shaye Haver were among 20 other women and 381 when they started the program. In the end, that number drastically decreased to 2 women and 94 men. Army Ranger training is notorious for being one of the most grueling programs in the armed forces. As part of their physical fitness test, they had to complete 49 pushups, 59 sit-ups, and a 5-mile run all in 40 minutes. They also had to a swim test, a land navigation test, a 12-mile foot march in three hours, several obstacle courses, four days of military mountaineering, three parachute jumps, four air assaults on helicopters, and 27 days of mock combat patrols (along with other tests).
Tatsiana Khvitsko
Tatsiana Khvitsko, an athlete with no legs and only 4 fingers, has defied the odds this year as she competed in her first bodybuilding competition. In the past, she has competed as a runner and in the future, she hopes to compete as a CrossFitter. As a result of Chernobyl radiation while in the womb, Tatsiana was born with physical disabilities and was abandoned by her parents after birth. However, she didn’t let that stop her from pursuing her dreams. She’s competed in a 5k run, 2 half-marathons and several other races. Since she only has four fingers, Tatsiana uses straps to lift weights and requires a safety box for squats. She stays positive despite her self-proclaimed frustrations and says, “Running made me realize that it was okay to be an amputee. And every time I put on my running blades I feel like a badass”.
Don Pellmann
Don Pellmann, a 100-year-old Santa Clara resident crushed his competition and set 5 world records at this year’s San Diego Senior Olympics. Pellmann become the first centenarian to clear the bar in the high jump, reaching 2 feet, 11.5 inches. He also broke records in the long jump, 100-meter dash, shot put and discus. Despite these great achievements, Pellmann was disappointed with most of his scores. He was, however ecstatic about beating the 100-meter dash record by three seconds.
Matt Klutka
Since December of 2013, Matt Klutka had been battling a rare form of cancer—leiomyosarcoma. In August of this year, doctors gave him only a few weeks to live, and has since passed. Despite his grim diagnosis, however, Klutka didn’t give up on his fitness lifestyle. An avid weightlifter, runner and snowboarder, he was in the weight room every day, even on his worst days. He serves as an inspiration to us all, reminding us that there’s always time to work on yourself.
Laura Payne
Laura Payne, a 32-year-old battling multiple eating disorders, has overcome the odds and competed in her first bodybuilding competition this year, nabbing the top spot. When she was in high school, Payne began battling anorexia and when she started college, it had worsened to battling both anorexia and bulimia. In 2002 she weighed only 82 pounds. Her parents realized how severe the issue was, took her out of school, and got her counseling. She now lives a healthier lifestyle, consuming 2,000 calories per day and working out in a gym she owns five days a week. She now weighs 150 pounds off-season and 125 during competition.
Janae Marie Kroc
This year, bodybuilder and world champion powerlifter formerly known as Matt Kroczaleski came out as a transgender woman and rocked the fitness world. Now known as Janae Marie Kroc, she says that she has always known that she was a woman on the inside but always loved the thrill of competition. Weightlifting gave her an escape, but going forward in her transition, Janae has no plans to continue powerlifting or bodybuilding. She serves as an inspiration for us to always follow our dreams.
Willie Murphy
77-year-old Willie Murphy beat her own personal record this year on The Rachel Ray Show. The granny who weighs only 105 pounds had previously deadlifted 215 pounds. She beat her personal best by deadlifting a whopping 225 pounds, all while blowing kisses at the crowd. Not only can Murphy deadlift more than double her weight, she also does one-handed pushups and pullups. We’d say that’s something to be inspired by!
