The retired dentist, Dr. Charles Eugster decided to start running and rowing at the age of 85 after noticing he was putting on weight and losing muscle. "The idea is to turn the heads of the sexy young 70-year-old girls on the beach," he says.

Disappointed he was becoming overweight; Dr Eugster joined a bodybuilding club and decided to hire a former Mr. Universe to train him into shape. He joined a body building club and began three intense work outs each week - before enlisting the help of a personal trainer aged 89.

He now works out three to four times a week, often for two hours at a time, with his regime varying depending on his goals and his vigorous training has clearly paid off.

Since starting his bodybuilding training he has won several world titles for fitness and picked up many rowing medals. At a recent championship he achieved 57 dips, 61 chin-ups, 50 push-ups and 48 abdominal crunches, each in 45 seconds.  He is careful to point out that, because of his age, he has dispensation to do the push-ups on his knees.

Steve Iliffe, professor of primary care for older people at University College London says: “Some 80-year-olds will feel it is time for a rest after years of hard work and often hard manual labour, he says. Though understandable, that's a mistake - it is important to keep active. Walking to the shops, taking the dog for a walk, or even walking down to the pub can help to keep healthy. But for Dr Eugster, six years of strenuous training with a professional coach in his hometown, Zurich, has changed his life.”

By Marina Vjetrovic