Author Topic: Bodybuilding Legend Albert Beckles, “The Ageless One,” Dies at 95 (Read 960 times)

beakdoctor · « **Reply #50 on:** **Today** at 12:55:09 PM »

Quote from: BayGBM on Today at 12:45:42 PM

He had quite the resume of professional competition. Truly amazing! Bay approved!

Over the years I have heard of him fudging about his age… any thoughts on why he might do it if it’s true? I never thought of BB as a venue where competitors suffered age discrimination—especially now. Older physiques are celebrated even if it’s with a word of caution. Perhaps that wasn’t true in earlier years.

May he rest in peace.

Id guess, his face 'type' and premature balding gave him an older look than he really was and - if he was lying about it- it probably evolved as a joke. Just a guess but He was probably asked about his age because of his looks and he just started playing into it. After awhile it became the thing he was known for.

BB · « **Reply #51 on:** **Today** at 01:27:34 PM »

Beckles age is a weird one. For years, he claimed 1930. Joe Roark, the IFBB historian for a lot of years, claims Beckles told John Hansen he was born in 1936, and Roark believes 1938 more likely.

Roark on tracking down Beckles age in various threads -

https://www.getbig.com/boards/index.php?topic=101196.msg1461551#msg1461551 .

https://www.getbig.com/boards/index.php?topic=68895.msg1023096#msg1023096 .

The Hansen claim in this thread -https://www.facebook.com/100044496156930/posts/albert-beckles-the-british-gentleman-albert-al-beckles-born-in-1930-is-a-former-/329429291883607/ .

Stephano · « **Reply #52 on:** **Today** at 01:37:24 PM »

Quote from: BB on Today at 01:27:34 PM

Roark believes 1938 more likely.

This is based on really flimsy evidence, though, like:

"he didn't compete in Master's shows when he was eligible!"

"The magazines didn't say that he was especially old!"

"his passport said DoB 1930, but it looked more like 193o, so I think he tampered with it!"

There's really no solid proof for a 1938 DoB, and we should probably just take Beckles at his word, especially as he did produce a passport that documented a 1930 DoB.