V Kittammal, affectionately called a “firecracker,” has turned heads from Coimbatore all the way to social media for her remarkable powerlifting achievements at the age of 82. Raised in a large family in Amaravathi, Tiruppur district, she grew strong through years of carrying grain sacks and household labor. That enduring vitality finally found a new avenue when her fitness-obsessed grandsons introduced her to the gym. 

What started with playful prodding led to serious training under her grandson Rithik (a national-level gold medallist), who taught her the deadlift in less than a month. At her first-ever competition the “Strong Man of South India” held in Kuniyamuthur she deadlifted 50 kg among much younger women, placing fifth in the open category. 

Her strength, she says, stems not from supplements but from lifelong habits and a wholesome traditional diet millet porridge, moringa soup, boiled vegetables, eggs, and multigrain meals. When industrialist Anand Mahindra spotlighted her story online, calling her someone “lifting not just weights but our spirits,” thousands resonated with her message that age is only a number and courage has no expiry date.