Meet the world's oldest bodybuilder who is still going strong at age 90

At 90 years old, Jim Arrington is more ripped than a lot of men a fraction of his age. 

Jim, a great-grandfather and a retired sales professional from America, has been bodybuilding for 75 years, and is now officially the world's oldest bodybuilder, according to Guinness World Records.

He first took the title in 2015 at age 83, and then reclaimed it last year.

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He recently took first place in the over-80 category and third place in the over-70 category at the International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness Professional League in Nevada.

Jim told Men’s Health magazine his goal is to convince the league to open an over-90s category, and that being a Guinness World Records title holder has “opened an entire new universe” and inspires him to keep going.

Jim was a scrawny, sickly child who "wanted to be a superhero" after he saw a muscle magazine when he was 15.

“Even their forearms were big,” he says. “I wanted to be a superhero.”

He began lifting weights, he recalls. "My goal was to be Mr America. But after five years, I saw I didn’t really have the genetics. I learned the secret to bodybuilding back in 1974 from Ken Waller, Mr Universe in 1975.

“He told me to do what works for you. I thought, well, thanks a lot. But that's essentially what you’ve got to do: experiment to see what works for you.” 

Despite his impressive physique, he's modest about his appearance. 

“I see all these fantastic physiques, and I knew the only way I could make it is if I outlast everybody. And that’s exactly what I did,” he told Guinness World Records. 

He lifts weights three times a week for two hours a session. "They say, no pain, no gain,” he smiles.

Jim admits that at his age his body is less resilient than it once was, and he has to be extra careful when training.

In the past five years his injuries have included a left bicep “breaking loose” and a gear in his right bicep. 

“You can’t do things you used to be able to do,” he admits. "It’s really disheartening, but it’s important to keep soldiering away.”

SOURCES: GUINNESSWORLDRECORDS.COM, MENSHEALTH.COM, THEGUARDIAN.COM