I I started lifting weights when I was 65 years old. I worked in real estate in Michigan for about 35 years, and when I retired I decided I wanted to lose some weight. A friend’s husband, Art Little, who is a personal trainer, invited me to her gym. He introduced me to weightlifting and is still my coach now.
The first time I went, he gave me a broomstick to pick up. The next day I told myself that I would not come back, but I heard a voice in my head telling me to come back. So, I ended up coming back day after day. After a few weeks, my coach encouraged me to go to a tournament to watch others compete. I was really in awe of all these young women, but there weren’t any my age. I asked my coach if he thought he could do it and he said, “Oh sure.”
The first time I competed was in a state competition. There were about 45 people of different age groups, ranging from teenagers to people my age. There were only three of us in my age category. I did the bench press, deadlift, and squat, all three types of lifts in powerlifting, and I came in first in all three. I was amazed that I won, because the others had been doing it for much longer. I arrived after two months and deleted them all. After that, I knew weightlifting was for me.
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My trainer made me go to the gym three times a week. I improved very quickly because it was constant. If he was supposed to be there on Monday, he would be there, no matter if it was a holiday, rainy or snowy. I didn’t miss a day, and that’s how I got to the weight I’m lifting now, although the gains were slow. Every year, it was getting better.
When I started weightlifting I could bench press 80-90lbs, but now it’s 200lbs. My top squat is 400lbs and my deadlift has increased from 80lbs to 400lbs. I am the world record holder in all three in the 60+ category.
I didn’t play any sports when I was younger; I was lazy. When I was 60 years old, I constantly felt tired and breathless going up and down stairs when showing houses as a real estate agent. I was embarrassing. Now the doctor tells me that my heart is strong and healthy.
My father was a workaholic. He was employed in a steel mill and passed on his work ethic to me. He instilled in me the idea that you have to be constant and put your mind on things to get to any part of life. He still trains three days a week, with each session lasting one to three hours. Each day he is dedicated to one of three weightlifting disciplines. I also do a lot of variety in the gym to get my body ready for a tournament, like leg presses, squats, and pulldowns.
Working out can be a challenge at times, but every time I come home afterward, I feel great. My coach is very proud of me. I have been invited to participate in the world championships every year since I started powerlifting and I have won in my category. every time. Younger competitors tell me that they want to be like me when they reach my age. The judges have been amazed at how much I can lift. People often look at me and say, “Oh, she won’t be able to lift that.” I like to surprise them.
It can be expensive, though: there’s a lot of travel involved, and specialized equipment such as a squat suit costs between $200 and $500 (£243-£404). I supplement my income by making food deliveries.
Now I am 79 years old and I tell people my age that they can do this too; they just have to be consistent and start small. You have to build yourself. If it’s not weight lifting, then do something active. You have to move your body. If you sit and do nothing, you turn to dust.
When I’m out and about, neighbors ask me if I’m the lady who lifts weights. My daughter is a nurse and her colleagues ask her if she also lifts weights. She doesn’t, but she’s proud of me. My son loves that he does it. His friends say he should be in the gym and he tells them it’s his mom’s thing. I can lift more than him.
My goal is to make a total of 1,000lbs (454kg) in all three disciplines by the time I go to the world championships in November. Although my greatest achievement is to improve my health. As long as I keep my good health and a strong mind, that’s all that matters to me.
As told to Amy Sedghi
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