Proving age is just a number here, sportswear giant Reebok has tapped an 81-year-old Chinese man, Wang Deshun, for their latest campaign: ‘Be More Human’.
Dubbed ‘China’s hottest grandpa’ – or, more poetically in Mandarin, lao xianrou, meaning ‘old fresh meat’ translated into English – Wang has embraced his new-found fame after first making headlines walking shirtless during the 2015 Beijing Fashion Week and now becoming a new spokesperson for Reebok.
Wang teamed up with the brand specifically because of his athletic talents. “Only seriously getting into fitness at the age of 70, Wang’s example has helped reshape China’s views on ageing and shown (that) you’re never too old to pursue your goals,” the brand said in a statement to WWD.
Being older in China typically means being respected, but also, often, sentimentalised. Someone as young as 50 may be addressed as “yeye” or “nainai” — grandpa or grandma — regardless of whether they have offspring.
Mr. Wang is having none of that.
“One way to tell if you’re old or not is to ask yourself, ‘Do you dare try something you’ve never done before
Watch the campaign film below.
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