Weightlifter Dadi! At 83, Kiran Bai Deadlifts Barefoot, In A Saree

Weightlifter Grandma: Lifting weight at gym is something that a lot of us avoid. Its not good for the back, it spoils the posture. Ab umar nahi rahi, let the young ones do it. While you should certainly avoid deadlifting if you have a bad back, if age is reason you are going with, then we have someone who can smash that stigma for you. Meet Kiran Bai, at 83, she deadlifts barefoot and she does it while wearing a saree.

Kiran Bai's weightlifting skills caught internet's attention after her grandson began posting videos and photographs of his grandma doing so from his Instagram handle. Kiran Bai, who is based in Chennai, was always into sports as a child, who loves to play Kho Kho and Kabaddi. While sports ceased to be a part of her life after marriage, she stayed fit due to her demanding lifestyle as a home-maker, performing various chores like carrying buckets of waters, grinding masalas with hand equipment and milking cows.

Her weightlifting journey however started with an accident last year. In 2020, Kiran Bai fell and sprained her ankle. She could barely walk for three months. "I dreaded the sedentary lifestyle, following my fall. My road to recovery was long and I began to feel like my end was nearing despite support from family," Kiran Bai told The New Indian Express.

However, her grandson Chirag Chordia, a gym trainer, turned her home into a makeshift gym for his dadi and created a workout plan to suit his grandmother. "Fortunately, my grandson is a gym trainer and he took it upon himself to nurse me back to health. It’s been three months since we started working out and there’s no looking back. I’m reminded of those good old days when I was fearless and active,” she added.

Kiran Bai lifts weight three times a week, beginning her session with a warm up routine. Thanks to her training she now feels energetic, confident and strong.

To ring in her 83rd birthday in March this year, Chordia shared a video on Instagram in which Kiran Bai is seen deadlifting 25 kgs for two reps.

 

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A post shared by Chirag Chordia (@chordia.chirag)

In other videos, we can see Kiran bai move a wooden chair, laden with gym weights, across the floor. She can also move a sofa using her legs and aces split squats and bicep curls.

The biggest gain for Kiran Bai from deadlifting has been the lack of fear in performing day to day activities, which is very common among elderly citizens as their bodies are susceptible to injury and resulting repercussions can often be debilitating.

"I’m training because I want to do my daily activities without fear. To all my friends and visitors who look at me in awe, you too can do this provided you have the willpower," she said.

Time to get off the couch and fetch those weights then.