Stephanie Needham lifts more than double her own weight.
Perhaps more impressively, the 58-year-old powerlifter deadlifts more than 264 lbs., a number that is four times her age every time she straightens out her body and hoists the cast-iron weights into the air. Every time the Langford resident steps up to the bar, the athlete turns heads.
B次元官网网址淛ust being able to say that I can back squat 250 lbs. and IB次元官网网址檓 58 years old, I think it keeps me young because everyone else is younger,B次元官网网址� she said.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 always fun when I can do stuff that people half my age canB次元官网网址檛 do.B次元官网网址�
While her specialty is the deadlift, Needham said she is currently B次元官网网址済roovingB次元官网网址� on the bench press, of which she can push 132 lbs. or more into the air.
Having been involved in crossfit training for several years, she only took up powerlifting in the spring. These days sheB次元官网网址檚 in competition training mode, settling into a training regimen of six days a week in preparation for the Commonwealth Powerlifting and Bench Press Championship.
From Dec. 1 to 5, sheB次元官网网址檒l be among 525 lifters from 15 Commonwealth countries competing at the Richmond Olympic Oval.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 hoping to lift (more) than I lifted at the provincials and maybe hit some personal records. If things go well, I hope to break the Canadian record for total (weight lifted),B次元官网网址� Needham said.
That national record, listed in metric weight, stands at 292 kilograms. B次元官网网址淚 have achieved it in training, but it didnB次元官网网址檛 (really) happen until it happens in competition.B次元官网网址�
Needham competes in the Masters II division for athletes age 50 to 58, and in the under-84 kg weight class. Her personal best total lift is 638 lbs. (289 kg).
Her coach, Sean Janzer, says despite the average competition age being under 30, Needham is among the top four or five female lifters in any age or size category.
B次元官网网址淪he is the one per cent of one per cent in terms of strength. She can do most things that a man or woman, young or old, canB次元官网网址檛 do,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淪he is very strong B次元官网网址� She hasnB次元官网网址檛 been tested at a national competition yet, but I would say she could be top three in Canada, no doubt.B次元官网网址�
Janzer remembers a big deal for him was when he managed to lift 300 lbs. in the deadlift when he was 24. He said Needham is capable of lifting that, despite being close to aging into the Masters III category B次元官网网址� he said sheB次元官网网址檚 still getting stronger.
B次元官网网址淪he is on a steep increase in her strength B次元官网网址� She has definitely more to go, but she will hit higher numbers than we have ever hit before,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淵ou never know what your bodyB次元官网网址檚 predetermined (limit) is. You gain until you stop gaining, but you donB次元官网网址檛 see any signs that she has plateaued.B次元官网网址�
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