Bodybuilding grandmother of 11 is also an acrobatic surfer
Get ready to stan this grandma-of-11, Sharon Mehalek, who is not only a bodybuilder, but she surfs, kickboxes, teaches yoga and dabbles in high-intensity interval training (HIIT).
The 67-year-old is so impressive that she’s also won a modelling competition and has taken the regional gold medal for Miss Fitness America and National Aerobic Championships.
On top of all that, Sharon, from Illinois, does indoor cycling, barre, rebounding, snowboarding, surfing, and pilates.
As you do.
At the time she started taking an interest in sports in high school, there weren’t many options for women so Sharon stuck with cheerleading.
It wasn’t until she had her fifth child that she got into fitness, starting with aerobic classes. Soon she was teaching various group exercises and became a keen gym-goer.
In 2016 she had her first surfing lesson at 63 and is now pretty good. She also does slalom water skiing and snowboarding.
Her fitness journey came from a desire to set the best example for her children and 11 grandchildren who range from the ages of two to 18.
‘Fitness became my passion and it all started simply as a way to stay fit while raising my five children,’ explained Sharon.
‘I left my husband at that time and was a single mother of five for eight years; I got a full-time job as a manager for a corporate fitness company.
‘All this time I was still teaching classes, training clients and managing a centre; consistency is key in feeling good and looking your best.’
Sharon remarried after eight years as a single mother and is still with her husband who she met at the gym.
While she has enjoyed her career – which saw the launch of her own skincare product company Beautycounter – Sharon says she has been a victim to ageism.
But that’s led her to leave corporate gyms who ‘owned’ her and motivated her to work on her own terms.
‘This has been an amazing journey through life for me,’ she added.
‘My way to be healthy and fit after five children grew into a career that was truly my passion and a beautiful fit for me.
‘As I faced obstacles and disappointments, staying fit was my sanity and my lifesaver.’
Sharon added that she loves being an active nana to her grandkids and taking part in all the fun:
‘I feel wonderful. I would love to live life all over again because time flies but I am extremely proud of my children and grandchildren and watching them in their lives.
‘I feel wiser and I know that I can always continue to learn more as I age.
‘I will never stop growing and believing in dreams and aspire to continue to motivate and inspire until I leave this great green earth.’
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