BRADENTON, Fla. (WSNN) — Some say the older you get, the wiser you are. But for one, Suncoast Man, his mindset is the older you get, the stronger you are.

Some celebrate their birthday with a party, a cake, or gifts. But Ira Kasdan started off his birthday, defying the odds by lifting over 500 pounds, a feat that would be impressive at any age. But at 73, puts him among the strongest in the world at his age.

“I’m an old retired guy. I’ve been retired 10 years now. Other than cooking the meals at home, most of what I do is I go to the gym,” Kasdan said.

Kasdan has been a weightlifter for 60 years now. After he retired, he saw a decline and looked to heavier weights, where he then set a goal to deadlift 500 pounds, when he turned 72 and he couldn’t stop there.

“I had thought I would never try a heavier lift than that, but as I worked out this year trying to stay close so that maybe I could replicate, I surprised myself and found I was even stronger,” Kasdan said.

The secret to his success is overcoming mental hurdles and getting comfortable being uncomfortable, which he believes anyone can attempt.

“Fear of failure is what keeps people from succeeding. And if I can push myself to actually attempt it, I almost always find out that I can,” Kasdan said.

Kasdan did this for himself and will continue striving for strength, for each birthday to come.

“It was something that I wanted to do. And I feel good about being stubborn enough and proud enough to drive myself to do it,” Kasdan said.