KEEP LIFTING
I’m a 66-year-old bodybuilder who trained with Arnie and win Mr Universe titles to this day, stay focused no matter what
A LEGENDARY bodybuilder who is still pumping iron at the age of 66 and winning Mr. Universe competitions says it is all about motivation.
Tony Pearson, who was discovered by Arnold Schwarzenegger, is still fighting fit despite retiring professionally nearly three decades ago.
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The muscle man - known as The Jetman by fans - asserted himself as a sporting icon thanks to his incredible physique and stage presence.
The 66-year-old won his first Mr. Universe competition in 1979 - and is still triumphing over his fellow bodybuilders today.
Despite officially retiring in 1994, his latest achievement was his victory at the AAU Mr. Universe Masters in 2020.
Forty years on from the beginning of his career, Tony has maintained his enviable fitness that allows him to seamlessly return to the stage.
As well as a clean diet and intense workouts, there is another secret that the bodybuilder credits for his success.
The author of Driven: My Secret Story said it was essential for younger athletes to stay on the right track.
He said in a post on his : "Always keep your goal in sight.
"Stay focused no matter what the obstacles, because there will always be challenges along the way, no matter what you pursue.
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"But if you are persistent, have a positive attitude and surround yourself with positive people, you will achieve your ultimate dream."
Tony's words of wisdom should be taken seriously by fitness fanatics - as managed to go from rags to riches doing what he loved.
He began hitting the gym in high school to help build his strength up while recovering from a wrestling injury and was stunned by how quickly his body grew with weight training.
Tony, from Memphis, Tennessee, soon joined what he called a "real gym,"; where the likes of Ken Waller, Dave Johns, and Samir Bannout worked out.
The youngster threw himself into bodybuilding and started bulking up, before leaving for California to chase his dreams of becoming a powerlifting pro in 1976.
It was there where he met Arnie - who later became his mentor - for the first time while training at the weight pit on Venice Beach.
The actor described how he watched in awe as Tony did "endless sets of squats, with very heavy weight, torturing himself with rep after rep."
"After a while, his thighs began to grow and soon they were huge, separated and beautifully defined."
Tony explained he was left starstruck when the hulking Arnie approached him and asked him to join a workout with him.
The encounter led to a life-long friendship between the pair, as well as an opportunity for The Jetman to join the weightlifting world.
He said of the meeting: "I had no titles. Just a kid on the beach.
";But still squatting 10 sets of 10 on the hot temperature out on the beach.
"I think he watched me for a few months to see if I had the heart to do it. It was about surviving the heat out in Santa Monica so.
"Yeah, he sent me to Joe Weider, and that’s how it all started."
Tony, known for his symmetrical lines and razor-sharp definition, went on to scoop a host of awards for his extraordinary physique.
He previously said: "For me, it’s not about size. I just saw the art form of it. those lines – it’s all about the lines. It’s the presentation."
The JetMan changed the game by pioneering couples posing with Lisa Lyon, while earning several Mr America and IFBB titles internationally.
His incredible contribution to the sport also earned him a spot on the "Muscle Beach Bodybuilding Hall of Fame" in Venice Beach in 2007, joining the likes of Arnie, Frank Zane and Joe Weider.
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Tony, credited with having the best shoulder-to-waist ratio in bodybuilding, then used his priceless knowledge to begin a personal training business.
He is said to have helped countless celebs and clients get in shape while passing on his skills to the next generation.
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