80-Year Old Powerlifter Can Still Pump 800 Pounds And Inspire Seniors to Hit the Gym:
Mike Palen has practiced Olympic-style weightlifting since he was 12, and 68 years later, he’s still going strong, 800 lbs. strong to be precise. The 80-year-old has been keen to get back in his local New York Sports Club after the easing of lockdown restrictions, wanting to resume training two to three times a week as he has done since Kennedy was in the White House. Palen lifts weights now to keep himself young and this sentiment rings true. Weightlifting stimulates the brain's ability to build new neurons and helps maintain bone density, both of which decline with age. He has also advocated for a company called SilverSneakers, a company that provides workout programs for older adults, and said, “I’m a member of SilverSneakers and I have to say honestly, it should be offered to everybody that’s getting old because it keeps us off the insurance liability!” To this day, he continues to go to the gym 2-3 times a week, serving as an inspiration to older adults to live happier and healthier lives.