Weight lifter strives for championship status

A popular phrase heard in recent years is “50 is the new 40.”

For Wiley White, it’s more like “50 is the new 25.”

The Alterra resident and trainer at Anytime Fitness in the Maricopa Fiesta Shopping Center is a competitive body builder who competes in the 50+ division.

Seeing him in street clothes it is obvious he is in great shape. However, a glance at some photos in the gym’s office of White in his competition gear reveals his competitive side.

“I started working out, lifting weights in high school,” White said. He also played football and dabbled in basketball and track.

“Back in those days there wasn’t a gym on every corner, and I went through a period of time when I didn’t work out.”

Needing something to occupy his time after going through his first divorce nearly 11 years ago, White got back into a fitness routine he maintains today.

“I always enjoyed it when I was younger and I just picked it back up,” he said.

He didn’t get into competition, however, until 2009.

The 52-year-old native of Asheville, N.C., has won several division competitions. He’s already earned the right to participate in a national competition and he is shooting for an overall title.

In a November show in Iowa he captured the open welterweight title as well as the Masters 50-59 crown. That earned him the right to take the next step.

He recently attended a bigger show in St. Louis where he again won the Master’s 50-59 division and placed fourth in the overall welterweight. Next comes the Masters Nationals in Pittsburgh in July.

“That’s the only Masters show of the year where they break the age groups into weight classes,” he said.

“My ultimate goal is a pro card,” White said. He intends to reach that goal by the time he is 55.