Jack LaLanne, Fitness Guru and Chiropractor Receives Lifetime Achievement Award at Age 95

Most people may not know this, but Jack LaLanne, known as the Godfather of Fitness, is also a chiropractor. Jack graduated Chiropractic school in 1936, and immediately went into fitness and opened a health club. Now at age 95 he remains active and has just received the 2009 Lifetime Achievement Award from the publication "Club Industry", a publication for fitness business professionals.

Even at age 95 Jack has a zeal for life, health and fitness. In a January 8, 2010 article in American Profile, LaLanne jests about his longevity by saying, "I can't die. It would ruin my image!" The article reports that Jack continues to workout 2 hours every day, and eats at least 10 raw vegetables and five fresh fruits each day.

"Dying is easy. Living, you've got to work at," states LaLanne. "You've got to have goals and challenges." Jack has been no stranger to giving himself challenges. An October 1, 2009 ClubIndustry.com article listed some of Jack's more amazing accomplishments. These include:

  • 1954, Age 40: Swam the length of the San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge under water with 140 pounds of equipment, including two air tanks
  • 1955, Age 41: Swam handcuffed from Alcatraz Island to Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco
  • 1957, Age 43: Swam the Golden Gate Channel towing a 2,500-pound cabin cruiser
  • 1959, Age 45: Completed 1,000 push-ups and 1,000 chin-ups in 1 hour, 22 minutes
  • 1974, Age 60: Swam handcuffed and shackled from Alcatraz Island to Fisherman's Wharf towing a 1,000-pound boat
  • 1975, Age 61: Swam the length of the Golden Gate Bridge handcuffed and shackled towing a 1,000-pound boat
  • 1976, Age 62: Commemorating the Spirit of '76, swam one mile in Long Beach Harbor (CA) handcuffed and shackled while towing 13 boats containing 76 people
  • 1979, Age 65: Towed 65 boats filled with 6,500 pounds while handcuffed and shackled in Ashinoko Lake, near Tokyo, Japan
  • 1980, Age 66: Towed 10 boats filled with 77 people for more than one mile in North Miami, FL
  • 1984, Age 70: Towed 70 boats with 70 people while handcuffed and shackled 1.5 miles from the Queens Way Bridge in Long Beach Harbor to the Queen Mary