Oprah Winfrey Celebrates 72nd Birthday with Stronger Focus on Strength Training and Muscle Longevity

Media mogul Oprah Winfrey marks her 72nd birthday by showcasing her strength training progress and credits singer Adele for inspiring her new fitness journey.

By: AXL Media

Published: Feb 18, 2026, 3:29 AM EST

Source: People

Oprah Winfrey marked her latest trip around the sun by showcasing her physical resilience at the gym during an intense 72 minute workout session. Dressed in navy leggings and a blue long sleeved top she completed multiple reps of the trap bar deadlift a full body exercise that targets the quads glutes and core. The media mogul appeared both confident and focused as she performed the movements under the guidance of her longtime trainer Peter. This public display of strength follows a period of significant health transformation for Winfrey who has been open about her commitment to a more active lifestyle and her use of weight loss medications to support her health goals.

In a candid video shared with her followers Winfrey admitted that she had never even heard of a deadlift until her famous sit down interview with Adele in 2021. During that conversation the British singer described her own intensive weightlifting routine and her ability to lift up to 170 pounds. Winfrey joked that she had initially pretended to know what the singer was talking about at the time while being privately shocked by the intensity of the regimen. Reflecting on that moment the media legend noted that while she may not be training at an Olympic level like Adele she certainly feels more powerful and capable than in previous decades.

The shift toward heavy resistance training was a strategic decision made after Winfrey underwent two summers of recovery following two separate knee surgeries. She explained that as people age the necessity of maintaining muscle mass becomes a matter of long term mobility and independence. Beyond lifting weights Winfrey’s routine has evolved to include a wide variety of cardiovascular challenges such as the assault bike the Versaclimber and the SkiErg. Her trainer also incorporates flexibility and core stability work including planks which Winfrey noted were once her most difficult challenge but have now become a staple of her daily movement.

Winfrey used her platform to encourage other women to try something new regardless of their age or previous experience in the gym. She described life at 72 as looking drastically different from any other decade of her life particularly in terms of her connection with her physical body. By sharing her journey she aims to dismantle the stigma that strength training is only for younger athletes emphasizing that it is a...