65-year-old super-fit gran shatters age norms by entering a 2026 all-natural figure contest
You don't have to quit the gym when you get older – and that's something Lesley Maxwell wants to show. The super-fit gran is living proof that age is just a number because she is still pumping iron in her 60s. Unsurprisingly, the ripped personal trainer often shocks people when she reveals her real age. Even though she's 65, she has more muscles than people who are half her age! Lesley doesn't just do this for show, she wants to encourage others to think about their health as they age. To inspire other 60-somethings, she is entering the All Natural Figure Competitions that will take place in April, 2026. She said: “If anyone had told me I’d be building my glutes for a competition in my sixties, I probably would have laughed. But here I am, in comp prep mode again.” "I was given £153,000 phone bill after 12-day business trip - one call cost £37k" All UK coin collectors warned over 'super-rare' £1 that could be in their stash Lesley, from Melbourne in Australia, continued: “My routine consists of training my lower body with every workout, so that’s four days a week. And I do my signature ‘alternating sets’ so that’s a lower body exercise followed by an upper body exercise. “It’s going to be a fun but challenging journey. I love pushing myself and seeing what can be achieved. Not just on a personal level – but hoping I can inspire others to realise that age is just a number.”
Four-day weekly routine and alternating sets define her training
Lesley, from Melbourne in Australia, continued: “My routine consists of training my lower body with every workout, so that’s four days a week. And I do my signature ‘alternating sets’ so that’s a lower body exercise followed by an upper body exercise. It’s going to be a fun but challenging journey. I love pushing myself and seeing what can be achieved. Not just on a personal level – but hoping I can inspire others to realise that age is just a number. Even though Lesley is already extremely fit, the contest won’t be a breeze. In fact, she’s got a lot of preparation to do before it takes place. She said: “It’s an early start; check-ins, tanning, hair, make-up and posing practice to get our muscles popping. I really try to stay in the moment and in my own world so I don’t get distracted. “Once on stage, we’re judged on balance, symmetry, posing muscle tone and overall presentation. It’s a long and intense but incredibly fulfilling day." Lesley is also getting into competition mode by closely monitoring her diet and gym sessions. She said: “I keep cardio minimal until closer to the event. And I always eat clean nourishing food with enough protein and fats. “I basically live on eggs and steak with a piece of fruit daily. Some would say it’s tough but I love how it makes me feel.”
Diet discipline and daily staples
While it's a lot of hard work that will take months of dedication, Lesley is determined to pave the way for others. She said: “It’s amazing that we can change the shape and health of our body, shape our glutes, tone our arms and tighten our waist regardless of age. I wish more people were aware of the power of what we eat and training effectively. “People know better than to ask me to slow down. This is what keeps me strong, happy and inspired.”
