80-year-old “Pullup Grandma” met her Physical: 100 idol Amotti, then won silver at the World Masters

Age is truly just a number for people like Dr Charlotte Lim, or, as she’s more famously known on Instagram, Pullup Grandma. At 80, most people would be forgiven for taking it slow, but Dr Lim has spent the past few weeks doing quite the opposite: meeting a reality TV star she’s long admired, jetting off to South Korea for a competition she didn’t even know she’d entered, and coming home with a piece of sporting history for Singapore. For many, it’s the kind of stretch that would be a lot for anyone from any generation, let alone someone in their 80s. And yet, for Pullup Grandma, she’s taken it entirely in stride, true to the calm – making her such a beloved figure in the first place.

Meeting Physical: 100’s Amotti

It all started with Dr Lim’s love for the Netflix reality show Physical: 100. Her daughter, Yan Lin, shared that the family had long wanted to meet contestant Amotti in person, and they finally got the chance at Sweat on Soul. Dr Lim, and her two kids, Yan and Lim Tiat flew to South Korea for Yan Lin’s birthday.

There, at the Sweat on Soul gym where the Physical:100 star regularly trains, Dr Lim did what she does best: she dropped into a few pull-ups with him on the spot, leaving him visibly impressed by her strength.

The World Masters Athletics Championships

However, that meeting with Amotti turned out to be just the warm-up. Soon after, at the World Masters Athletics Championships, running from now until 3 September in Daegu, South Korea, Dr Lim flew over for what she thought was mostly a holiday. But, in reality, her son and daughter had quietly entered her into the competition without telling her.

“She actually didn’t know what she’d signed up for,” Yan Lin admitted. She and her brother, Lim Tiat, had registered their mother for the competition, and when Yan Lin later told her she wanted a medal as a birthday gift, the pressure set in fast.

And yet, against those odds, Dr Lim took up the challenge and put in her best in the 800m race. And then came the surprise: she won silver in the race, in the 80–84 age category.

“She is still processing that she is now a world champion, because she just shows up, runs, and if people want to give her a medal, she’s okay with that,” Yan Lin said in an interview.

It’s a line that sums up exactly why Dr Lim has become such an inspiration. She’s not here chasing clout or titles, but she just consistently showing up, feeling good after a workout, and encouraging everyone around her (this writer included) to keep moving.

The pullup that took four years

None of this, though, happened overnight. In a previous interview with Her World Singapore for our May issue, Dr Lim opened up about her fitness journey, including the fact that she only attempted her first pullup at age 76.

Four years on, at 80 years old, she’s come a long way from that single rep. Not only can she now do multiple pullups, but she can also squat 50kg — slightly over her own bodyweight of 49kg — and deadhang for over four minutes.

Her first pullup, she recalled, came out of nowhere. She was waiting outside her condominium for a bus when she decided, on a whim, to attempt one. She didn’t expect to make it, but this time, she did. It was a small moment four years in the making, and proof of a simple lesson: that consistent effort, over time, eventually shows results.

Much of that consistency has been backed by her family, particularly Yan Lin, a health and fitness coach who runs her own gym, FitRX. The gym has built a loyal following of its own, and it’s also where Dr Lim trains every week.

Six days a week

Still, what really sets Dr Lim apart isn’t just what she can do, but how much she shows up to do it. While most people might spend an hour working out, Dr Lim regularly trains for two hours or more, showing the level of dedication and perseverance that continues to leave those around her in awe.

To this day, she lifts six times a week, splitting her training between weightlifting and running laps around her condominium. 

Now, on Dr Lim’s agenda, she’s taking on the FitRX challenge, a three-month goal to rack up 1,000 pull-ups, 2,000 push-ups, 3,000 sit-ups, and 4,000 squats.