Local 82-Year-Old Going For Magazine Fitness Title
Lifting heavy weights as you get older is not easy, but that’s exactly what a local 82-year-old man does and he’s going for a magazine fitness title. I know his determination because he is my dad.
My dad, Jeff Guller, has always been an athlete. Growing up, I always knew where I could reach him or find him during the hours of 12-2 P.M. Every weekday he’d be at the Gastonia YMCA playing racquetball.
About 10 years ago, my dad went in for prostate surgery, and doctors told him they could not operate as he’d had a few heart attacks. He had no idea! My dad then underwent quintuple bypass surgery. About 8 months later, he competed in his first powerlifting meet.
I thought he was crazy! And he IS! But that’s one of the things that keeps him motivated and why he lifts. Once he began powerlifting, he was hooked. At 82, he trains a few times a week and competes a couple of times a year.
Right now, he holds world records in three age groups and two weight classes. Because he’s extremely competitive, he’s going for more.
The Magazine Fitness Title
The magazine ‘Health & Fitness’ is holding a competition to find ‘Mr. Health & Fitness 2024‘ and my dad is in the running. The winner will be featured in the magazine and win $20,000. The public will be able to vote for their favorite person beginning Monday, May 6.
Now, my dad looks a lot different than most of the ripped muscle guys that are usually featured in the magazine. This is one of the reasons I think he should win! Despite the fact that he’s my dad, he’s such an inspiration to many people, young and old.

You don’t see many 82-year-olds that weight under 180lbs squatting 400 lbs. Heck, you don’t see a lot of younger people doing that! One of the reasons it’s so amazing that my dad lifts is because he’s had an array of orthopedic issues.
My dad has had knee, neck, back, shoulder and heart operations. In addition, he’s had hip replacement and a knee replacement. One of his hips is so bad, the doctor said he couldn’t due replacement surgery. In addition to all of the operations, my dad suffers from COPD. I’m shocked, and sometimes scared, when I watch him lift. He has a hard time walking around but he can deadlift 400 lbs!
Winning this title would make my dad ecstatic! His accomplishments in life are many, but this would make him happy. The $20,000 would rock but it’s the title that would mean everything to him.
If you wanna check him out, there’s video of him lifting below. And please vote for him for the title! You can do that here.