A woman who started weightlifting to make maneuvering her son’s wheelchair easier has become a bodybuilding sensation at 63 years old.

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

The youngster needed to use a wheelchair by the time he was five years old and, as he got heavier with age and height, Tammy hit the gym in order to be able to push it for more freely.

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

Tammy Kearn, who began weightlifting in 1977 ‘mostly out of curiosity,’ has 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 enduring spirit and the love I held for him,’ she explained

Tammy began weightlifting in 1977 ‘mostly out of curiosity’ and then ended up continuing through the 1980s ‘out of necessity.’ 

In the beginning, she focused on weight loss and toning before moving on to strength training. 

Speaking about her journey, Tammy revealed: ‘After [Daniel’s] death, I decided to continue lifting weights.

‘I figured there would also be a time in my life or someone else’s life when I’d have to carry the load, 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 enduring spirit and the love I held for him,’ she explained.

And Tammy’s fitness journey soon ‘became a way of dealing’ with her ‘grief.’

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

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

For the past decade, she has been married to husband Kevin Kearn – 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 contest. They dedicated themselves to staying committed and entered the LA Championship last July 

Despite her age, she has no plans on retiring from professional bodybuilding and, in fact, she insists that she is in her prime 

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

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 contest. 

They dedicated themselves to staying committed to the goal and entered the Los Angeles Championship last July.

Tammy was ‘thrilled and humble’ to find out she 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 beam a goodness 24/7 on all of us – the family and friends you love, the students you enlighten, or the people you inspire through your fitness. 

‘No one combines joy, wisdom, caring, and crazy-hot-beauty to our lives like you do and no one is more adored, respected, and loved.’ 

Despite her age, she has no plans on retiring from professional bodybuilding and, in fact, she insists that she is in her prime.