Lilian Tan Becomes First Asian to Be a 4-Time World Bodybuilding Champion

Professional bodybuilder, Lilian Tan, just became the first Asian bodybuilder ever to hold four titles; she won the women’s 55 kilogram (121 pounds) category at the World Bodybuilding and Physical Fitness Championships in Chiangmai, Thailand.

On top of her 55 kilogram category win, Tan, who hails from Penang, Malaysia, also won the gold medal in the 30-year-old and above category at the 10th WBPF Championships on Friday, December 14, according to The Star. The latter is a newly introduced category in the competition.

Tan’s journey to receiving her fourth title was littered with obstacles. As said in the report, the National Sports Council could only provide her with limited resources, especially with cost-cutting measures recently implemented.

The bodybuilder then resorted to opening up crowdfunding so that she could pursue her dream in becoming the first Asian to hold four WBPF titles.

She previously won the same title during the competition in Bangkok, Thailand in 2012, then followed it in Mumbai, India in 2014 and Pattaya, Thailand in 2016.

Images via Instagram / liliantanfitness

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