Woman who started weightlifting to make it easier to push her son’s wheelchair becomes a bodybuilding sensation at 63 years old

A woman who started lifting weights to make it easier to maneuver her son’s wheelchair has become a bodybuilding sensation at the age of 63.

Tammy Kearn’s son Daniel was born in 1978 with a form of muscular dystrophy calleda condition that causes congenital muscle weakness throughout the body and progressive deterioration of the muscles.’

The youngster had to use a wheelchair by the time he was five years old and as he gained weight with age and height, Tammy started going to the gym to be able to push him more freely.

Sadly, Tammy’s son passed away in 1990 at the age of 11, but the college professor continued her fitness journey as a form of healing and has since become a bodybuilding icon in California.

In the beginning, the fitness fanatic focused on weight loss and toning before moving on to strength training

“Every weight I lifted, every drop of sweat became a living testament to my son’s tenacious spirit and the love I had for him,” she explained

Tammy started lifting weights in 1977 “largely out of curiosity” and eventually continued into the 1980s “out of necessity.”

At first, she focused on weight loss and toning before moving on to strength training.

Talking about her journey, Tammy said, “After Daniel’s death, I decided to continue lifting weights.

“I thought there would also be a time in my life or someone else’s life when I would have to bear the burden, both literally and figuratively,” she said vulnerably.

“The gym wasn’t just a place to escape, it became a sanctuary. Every weight I lifted, every drop of sweat became a living testament to my son’s tenacious spirit and the love I had for him,” she explained.

And Tammy’s fitness journey quickly became “a way to cope with her” grief.

She now has over 126,000 followers on Instagram with whom she shares her daily protein count and workout routine.

For the past ten years she has been married to husband Kevin Kearn, whose own husband was Kevin Kearn Instagram bio reads: ‘Athlete. Retired Army officer, married to my best friend, living in a great place, and very grateful.”

She’s been married to husband Kevin Kearn for the past decade – and now the two lovebirds regularly train together at the gym

In September 2022, they decided as a couple that they would try a bodybuilding competition. They have committed to staying involved and competed in the LA Championship this past July

Despite her age, she has no plans to retire from professional bodybuilding and insists she is in her prime.

For her 63rd birthday on August 13, Kevin captioned a video slideshow of Tammy: “You radiate goodness 24/7 to all of us – the family and friends you love, the students you enlighten, or the people you inspire through your condition’

And now the two lovebirds regularly work out together at the gym.

In September 2022, they decided as a couple that they would try a bodybuilding competition.

They have committed to staying committed to the cause and competed in the Los Angeles Championship last July.

Tammy was “excited and humbled” when she found out she had won “first place overall in the Women’s Physique category.”

For her 63rd birthday on August 13, Kevin captioned a video slideshow of Tammy: “You radiate goodness 24/7 to all of us – the family and friends you love, the students you enlighten, or the people you inspire through your condition.

“No one combines joy, wisdom, caring, and crazy beauty into our lives like you do, and no one is more adored, respected, and loved.”

Despite her age, she has no plans to retire from professional bodybuilding and even claims that she is in her prime.