Meet Cheryl Riess, a grandmother of seven and mother of five, who just might be the oldest first-time bodybuilder to compete in the country.
OCEANSIDE, Calif. — Each birthday is a time to reflect on life, aging and the wisdom that comes with it. For one local woman, turning 75 meant more than cake and candles — it meant stepping on stage in a bikini, flexing her muscles, and redefining what aging can look like.
Meet Cheryl Riess, a grandmother of seven and mother of five who just might be the oldest first-time bodybuilder to compete in the country.
If you’re a fan of the phrase, ‘strength has no age,’ then you’re about to become a big fan of Cheryl Riess.
While many of Cheryl’s hobbies might sound typical for a woman her age — gardening, crafting, and making jewelry — what she decided to take on next certainly wasn’t. After being diagnosed with osteoporosis, Cheryl didn’t slow down. She sped up.
“I said I want to work out.”
Cheryl made a commitment not to let age define her — instead, she was determined to define how she would age.
“If I commit to something, I’m all in.”
She decided not just to get stronger, but to compete in a full-on bodybuilding competition.
“I said right away, I want to compete. I’ve never even worn a bikini.”
Before she could take the stage, she had work to do — months of it. Cheryl trained with bodybuilding coach Laurie Delaney, spending hours in the gym, trimming her waistline, building muscle, and learning the moves required for competition.
Laurie, a seasoned coach, had never trained someone quite like Cheryl.
“She’s a Type A personality. Cheryl is a testimony to the fact that you are never too old to do this.”
Cheryl’s daughter, Kara, says her mom has amazing determination.
“My mom has always been someone who has completely done the unexpected… I’m going to do bodybuilding? You’re going to do what?! Never seen you in a bikini, in front of everybody, mom — you’ve had five kids!”
And Cheryl wasn’t shy about the realities of aging.
“Skin isn’t as elastic as it used to be. I had five kids, and I was concerned about that.”
But through grit and discipline, she dropped 25 pounds in just over three months, building muscle and confidence with every rep.
“I ended up losing 25 pounds in about 3.5 months, and adding pounds of muscle along the way.”
Her support system helped, including long-time friends.
“Being half-naked, and there you are, putting yourself out there — it’s a big deal,” said her friend, Stephanie Young.
Her diet? Even more intense.
“Four egg whites in the morning, one-third cup of oatmeal. Every meal was two ounces of chicken, two ounces of sweet potatoes, and eight asparagus spears. Every day.”
And all of it — the dieting, the dumbbells, the dedication — was for one moment: stepping onto the stage at the INBA Natural Bodybuilding Championship in Oceanside this past August.
“I was the first athlete on the stage.”
The crowd roared as Cheryl took the stage in her one-piece. Women half her age were also on stage. Then came the bikini round — yes, the bikini round.
“In a bikini at 75!” the announcer said.
And then, the evening gown competition — where her husband, Rich, couldn’t help but whistle in approval.
Incredibly, Cheryl won first place in both the one-piece and bikini categories in her division and took home a third-place medal in the evening gown category.
“I’m proud because I said I was going to do it — and I did it.”
Her granddaughter, Dakota, is still in awe.
“I tell all my friends about everything she does. My grandma just did a bodybuilding competition. They’re like — what are you talking about?!”
“She’s someone I look up to so much. I hope at 75 I can be doing things like that.”
Cheryl’s daughter Kara echoed the sentiment.
“This competition is another example of not allowing others to put limits on her.”
Even her son-in-law, Mark, got a kick out of it.
“I want to look — don’t — my mother-in-law doing booty shots — oh, forgive me, but it was part of the show… it was awesome.”
An awesome reminder that age really is just a number.
“I had a lot of fun, but I’m glad it’s over.”
When asked what she thinks when she hears the word, age, Cheryl said: “Being chronologically gifted. We are lucky to make 75.”
“She wants to inspire people to think differently,” her daughter Kara said.
“I would like to be like her someday,” her granddaughter, Dakota, said.
Cheryl’s advice is simple for people who aren’t sure they can do something due to their age.
Although there’s no official record, Cheryl may be the oldest first-time competitor in American bodybuilding history.
And while she may not be planning another competition — for now — Cheryl’s story is a reminder to all of us:
