Dentist, 59, has secret hobby performing as a champion pole dancer

This Thai dentist has a secret hobby - performing as a competitive pole dancer in her spare time.

Keerathi Tongamphan, also known as Doctor Nui, 59, works as a government dentist for her day job.

However, she said she considers herself better at sports, and began dabbling in gymnastics at 50 - an age that would be considered advanced for most gymnasts.

Upon learning how to do the different varieties of flips, tucks, and handsprings, she then turned to pole dancing 'because it looked exotic and makes people think of strippers'.

She said: 'At that time, I thought pole dance was only about sex work. But when I tried it, I found that it required strength and plenty of flexibility and also durability.'

After just two years of training, Doctor Nui entered her first pole dancing competition in Taipei, Taiwan, and managed to bag two golds in the grandmaster (50-59) and master (40-49) categories.

She said: 'My age has never been a challenge. I'm familiar with the pole. You start with easy poses and then those poses are then modified.

'You will reach each level based on how much you train. If you are hard-working, tolerant and you really love it, you will be able to have a good grasp of it fast.

'Humans can only be happy only when they're healthy. And to achieve that, you have to work hard. You can't just sit still and enjoy the comfort. You must do things that use your physical energy.

'Then you can slowly discover what you like. If you like something exciting, challenging that needs strength, try to keep an open mind and maintain consistency.'

SUBTITLES

0.57 Hello, I am dentist Keerathi Tongamphan. My nick name is Doctor Nui. I'm a Dentist in a state hospital 1.07 I'm 59 years old. I'm a full-time dentist and a part-time athlete. I do many sports

1.18 But what I'm best at is pole dance. Doing sports with the pole. It started with me being a sports lover since I was a child

1.30 But the one sport that I always wanted to try was gymnastics. I only started when I was 50 years old

1.37 I trained everyday until I could do a backflip, front tuck, front handspring, back tuck, back handspring. I could do it all

1.44 When I turned 52, I wanted to do something more challenging. So I tried pole dance. Because it looked exotic and it makes you thinks of strippers

1.57 At that time I thought pole dance was only about sex work. But when I tried it, I found that this sport require strength and plenty of flexibility and also durability

2.10 Because our body will move against the rod. I had bruises and scratches the first few months. It's been six years now

2.18 Pole sport or pole dance uses almost every muscle in your body. You have to carry your whole body weight

2.27 Up on the rod against gravity. The flexibility required in each poses is also part of its difficulty. You have to stretch your legs, bend your back

2.38 Your muscle hugging the rod uses both your arms, legs, neck, head, and even the ear. You also have to flex these muscles

2.53 My age has never been a challenge. I'm familiar with the pole. You start with easy poses and then those pose are then modified

3.02 You will reach each level based on how much you train. If you are hard-working, tolerant and you really love it, you will be able to catch hold of it fast

3.09 Pole dance has beauty, music and dances moves. Your mood will go according to the music playing. Each trick I do, I try to communicate with my audience

3.25 When I perform, I look at the camera. It involves everything. When I trained for two years and turned 54

3.35 My teacher invited me to compete in Taipei, Taiwan. It was a pro sport organisation competition in the year 2019

3.45 This competition divides each level based on age. I thought I should try. I think if I'm competing with people within my age bracket it's fai

3.56 I started learning when I'm old. I won't be able to compete with other younger participants. So I tried. I was 54 then

4.04 I'm at the grand master level with age ranging between 50-59. I sent my video and won first place

4.14 I thought it was just the first round. When I reach there, they told me that I won a gold medal for the grandmaster level and asked me if I wanted to compete with the master level

4.25 That's 40-49. So I said yes and I will try. I came all the way there and didn't get to perform. So I tried competing

4.38 My coach told me to wait for a tiara after watching me perform. Turns out I won first place too. I beat the host

4.52 A Taiwanese aged only 40 years old. She had been training for four years while I trained for two

5.00 The poses that were part of the competition were part of many gymnastic poses. Many moves require strength. I already have a strong foundation in gymnastics

5.08 So I won another gold medal from PSO 2019 in Taipei, Taiwan. Humans can only be happy only when they're healthy

5.22 And to achieve that, you have to work hard. You can't just sit still and enjoy the comfort. You must do things that exercises your physical energy

5.33 Then you would slowly discover what you like. If you like something exciting, challenging that needs strength, try to keep an open mind

5.40 Try pole sports or pole dance. I hope you discover what you like and maintain consistency

5.49 Then you'll become healthier. It's better than doing nothing. Eating and sleeping only is no good