By Thomas McCarthy
Facing the age of 76 and more bodybuilding competitions in and out of the country, Peter Ciraulo is not slowing down anytime soon. On top of rigorous training and travel, he wants to help people his age get their health in order.
“Age is not too heavy a lift for me,” Ciraulo said.
He said that as the oldest competitive natural bodybuilder in New York, he has a streak to keep alive. He has joked that if he looks as good as he does at 75, he can’t wait until he’s 80.
As a member of the amateur level International Natural Bodybuilding Federation (INBF), Ciraulo flexes across the country and all around the globe. The New Hyde Park native has had a busy year.
In April, he placed first for “Masters over 60+” and first for “Masters over 70+” at the 2019 Natural USA bodybuilding event at Rochester. Just one week later, he also placed first at the INBF Jersey Cup Classic in Sommerville, New Jersey.
In June, he will compete in the INBF Hercules Cup in the “40 and over” class and has been invited to participate in a competition in Taranto, Italy.
Ciraulo said about his busy schedule, “I really enjoy the recognition! I feel so young when I do it!”
Ciraulo spends most nights at the gym, training about two and a half hours, and focuses each night on one body part. For the four to six weeks leading up to a big competition, one can find him at L.A. Fitness every night of the week. He also helps train younger children aspiring to get in shape and become competitive bodybuilders.
When he is not training, Ciraulo can be found volunteering at St. Francis Hospital in Roslyn. Doing weekly talks about health and nutrition, he says “it’s never too late” for senior citizens to start getting their health in order and maintaining a healthy diet. He also hosts classes to help hospital patients understand healthy methods of weight management.
Ciraulo wants to help people in a similar boat that he was in when he was 60. At a heavy weight of 230 pounds and going through a divorce, the former banker started to go to the gym as therapy. He eventually got a personal trainer, a retired NYPD officer named Jeff Hanson who suggested he consider entering competitions after Ciraulo made a lot of progress in the weight room.
A veteran of the Vietnam War, Ciraulo said he believes the discipline he brings to the weight room is due to his time serving as a naval officer. He spent a year and a half overseas “at the height of the war.” He noted that while he would not trade away his experience in the military, he would also never like to do it again. A lot of people he knew well died overseas and he says he’s lucky to have survived.
Ciraulo sees no end in sight for his bodybuilding career, unless his doctors and family seriously urge him to stop, saying: “I’m addicted to it. I don’t plan on stopping.”
