Lady bodybuilders in Japan smash gender stereotypes

TOKYO - Glistening with sweat, Satoko Yamanouchi's biceps ripple and the veins in her neck throb as if about to pop as she strikes a fearsome pose at the Japan bodybuilding championships.

An hour later, the pint-sized Nagoya housewife is close to tears after narrowly failing to retain her title from a field of 34 bronzed and impressively buff ladies, most of them in their fifties.

"I was pathetic! A silver medal means nothing to me," said the sinewy ex-champ, who stands just 1.58 meters tall and weighs about 50 kilograms. "It just means you're the best loser."