Meet Athanasius Lee, the ambitious 14-year-old with dreams of going professional. With a passion and drive well beyond his years, Athanasius is determined to turn his aspirations into reality. Stay tuned as he embarks on this exciting journey towards achieving his professional goals.
Eat, sleep, gym, repeat – that’s a typical day for 14-year-old Athanasius Lee, who is dedicated to his dream of becoming a professional bodybuilder. When he’s not at school, Athanasius, a Secondary 3 student at Anglo-Chinese School (Barker Road), focuses entirely on his passion for bodybuilding.
His dedication to the sport shines on Instagram, where he shares his bodybuilding journey with over 600,000 followers. “Lifting and content creation are my only hobbies … my whole life revolves around the gym,” says Athanasius, who started weightlifting at home at the age of 12, inspired by young bodybuilding influencers like Jesse James West from the United States.
Known as Athy to his friends and followers, Athanasius continues to work tirelessly towards his goal, balancing school and intense training with unwavering commitment.
“I remember the first time I lifted weights; it went on for four hours, just watching YouTube while doing bicep curls,” Athanasius Lee recounted with glee.
His parents, Mr. Gladwin Lee and Mrs. Rachel Lee, are fully supportive of his passion. Despite struggling with dyslexia, Athy’s dedication to his training routine has instilled a strong sense of discipline and boosted his confidence.
The teen influencer, Athanasius Lee, fills his Instagram page @athylifts with videos showcasing his bodybuilding poses and eating habits, aiming to post a new viral reel every day. What began as a hobby in content creation quickly turned into a sensation, far exceeding his expectations.
“I was surprised as I thought I would only get 500 followers in years,” he admitted, reflecting on his rapid rise to over 600,000 followers.
MORE MALE TEENS HITTING THE GYM
Athy is part of a growing trend of male teenagers in Singapore hitting the gym and taking an interest in bodybuilding. Data from the National Sport Participation Survey reveals that in 2023, 8% of male teenagers aged 13 to 19 participated in weightlifting and bodybuilding, while overall participation in these sports remained steady at 4% from 2020 to 2023.
Visits to public gyms run by ActiveSG among male teenagers in this age group saw a significant 39% increase between 2022 and 2023. Athy’s personal coach, Mr. Adrian Tan, attributes this surge in interest to the influence of social media. He notes that teenagers are increasingly aware of the benefits of weight training, which include enhanced sports performance, discipline, and improved physical appearance.
“Social media definitely plays a big part in terms of how people want to look and how they want to present themselves,” Mr. Tan added, highlighting the platform’s role in shaping fitness trends among young people.
ADDICTIVE
Mr. Adrian Tan, a two-time Mr. Singapore overall champion, explained that bodybuilding involves weight training and sculpting the body to achieve an ideal shape, emphasizing symmetry, proportions, and definition. This discipline requires strict attention to nutrition and ample rest.
Athy follows a training regimen designed by Mr. Tan, with each workout lasting between one to one-and-a-half hours. He trains daily, except on Sundays, carefully balancing his fitness routine with schoolwork, co-curricular activities, and family commitments.
Athy and his coach emphasize that the bodybuilding regimen for teenagers mirrors that of adults, with necessary adjustments to the weights used. “Teenagers don’t have as much muscle mass as adults, so they should not train ‘too heavy’ to avoid injury,” Mr. Tan explained. This tailored approach ensures that young bodybuilders can train effectively while minimizing the risk of injury.
While some may find bodybuilding daunting, 14-year-old Athanasius Lee considers it “therapeutic.” The sport has become “addictive” for him as he witnesses the physical progress he set out to achieve.
“I feel a sense of accomplishment when my day isn’t that good, but I still did something good,” Athy shared.
One of his proudest moments was achieving his desired “V Taper” – an upper body shape characterized by broad shoulders and a narrow waist. Recalling that milestone, Athy smiled and said, “I just looked in the mirror one day and I was really proud of myself. I never thought as a kid I would ever get that.”
