At 60, Paarl’s Douglas Green is still turning heads on the bodybuilding stage – and he has the silver medal to prove it.
Green powered his way to second place in the under-75kg masters category at the World Masters Bodybuilding Championship in Singapore, saying he was in better shape than many of the younger athletes in the competition.
“Ek het hulle net so dopgehou en gedink: Wow! Ek lyk dan beter as baie van die jong mense,” he said. (“I watched them and thought: ‘Wow! I look better than many of the younger athletes.”)
The competition took place in Singapore on Sunday, where Uncle Douglas flexed his way to a silver medal for entrants under 75kg.
He says athletics and fitness “is in die Green-family bloodline”.
“I started boxing at the age of 10 and won several Western Cape provincial awards. I also played some rugby and was part of Craven Week during my primary school days,” he said.
Green’s simple formula for staying fit at 60
He also played for Paarl’s Evergreens Rugby Club for a few years before starting his bodybuilding journey.
But his entry into bodybuilding was almost by accident.
He recalls walking into a bodybuilding competition at the Cape Town City Hall about 20 years ago.
“I just wanted to use the City Hall’s toilet, not knowing that there was a bodybuilding competition taking place.”
He says a man he came to know as Jason Kleinsmith looked at him and asked if he would be willing to partner with him for the competition.
“I didn’t know the man at all. I just wanted to know where the toilet was,” Green said.
“I told him that bodybuilding was never something I had considered doing, but if he could give me a Speedo, I would join him.
“And that is where it all started.”
And what a start it was.
“That day I won second place. I was very confident and I think it was the nippie gin I had earlier.”
For the past 20 years, Green has been part of the Western Province Natural Body Building Federation.
He has competed in several bodybuilding competitions locally and abroad, but says this latest achievement is extra special.
“I have always landed in third or fourth place. This is the first time I came second.
“God willing, I hope to take first place next year.”
According to Green, there is “no secret” to how he remains in such good shape at 60.
“I eat healthy. I gym five days a week. On Saturday mornings I do cardio.”
