Weightlifting grandad, 88, becomes Tiktok sensation

An 88-year-old grandfather who took up weightlifting after the death of his wife has become a TikTok hit.

Mick Wadge, from Laneshaw Bridge, Lancashire, began exercising at home with a broom handle and milk containers after his wife, Margaret, died.

His TikTok account, set up by his personal trainer about four weeks ago, now has more than 3,600 followers and 44,000 likes, while the videos have been viewed about 700,000 times, his trainer said.

Wadge, whose personal best dead-lift is 100kg, is now considering entering a powerlifting competition and exploring a potential Guinness World Record attempt.

Wadge said he had always been active and had earned a brown belt in judo when he was younger, but had not previously trained regularly in a gym.

"When my wife died, I decided I had to do something," he said.

"I got a broom handle and put two milk jugs on, one on either side, and started training on my patio."

He later added wheelbarrow wheels to increase the weight of the broom, before eventually turning to the gym.

Wadge said exercise had given him "a purpose".

"I always said I weren't going to be one of these people who sit in front of the television all day long," he said.

"I was going to get out and make friends and do something for myself - make it worthwhile."

For about three years he has trained with Ross Starkie, a strength and conditioning coach from Burnley, who has worked as a personal trainer for a decade.

Starkie said Wadge was probably his "naughtiest client", but praised his work rate and said the benefits went beyond weight training.

"I'd definitely say the biggest difference is just hearing Mick laugh," he said.

"In this gym, Mick is not invisible. Everybody knows him."

Wadge's daughter, Maxine Whitham, said the gym had "made all the difference" to her father, following her mother's death.

She said her parents had been together since they were very young and finding himself on his own had been a momentous change.

"Finding something to occupy his mind and his body was really meaningful," she said.

She said Starkie had been "absolutely superb with him", adding that her father "talks about nothing else".

Whitham said Wadge's four grandsons were also proud of his newfound online following.

"They just think it's amazing," she said.

Starkie said he set up Wadge's TikTok account about 28 days ago because he thought other people would be interested to see what the 88 year old was achieving.

He said videos on the account received roughly 700,000 views since it went live, adding one video has been viewed more than 220,000 times.

The attention has also attracted fitness clothing company Gymshark, who contacted Wadge and described him as a "great inspiration within the gym community" and offered to send him free products to support his training.

Wadge said his unexpected social media following had been "the best bit of fun I've had for a long time".

"People say, 'Oh, I've seen you on TikTok!'" he said.

Starkie said Wadge's personal best dead-lift was 100kg using a standard bar, and about 105kg using a hex bar.

He is currently focused on a 120kg dead-lift, a goal Wadge has said is partly inspired by the achievements of a younger friend.

Starkie said they were also considering entering Wadge into a powerlifting competition and investigating a Guinness World Record attempt.

For Wadge, however, the enjoyment of training and being around other people remains central.

"The fun I get working out with people and being surrounded by people... It's difficult to explain, it's just happiness."

"As long as I can keep going, that's what I do."

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