For most of my life, I never thought of myself as an athlete. I
was always one of the smaller kids and not especially coordinated, so was
usually picked last—or close to last—when teams were chosen. Representing the United States
at a World Championship wasn't something I failed to achieve
when I was younger. It wasn't something I ever imagined was
possible.
Fitness became a much bigger part of my life as an adult. I
spent 16 years doing CrossFit, coaching it almost as long, and
five years owning a CrossFit gym. After struggling to keep the gym going through
COVID and increasingly unsustainable rent, I eventually sold it.
Along the way, I'd lost a significant amount of strength and
wanted to get it back.
So at 55, I decided to try something I'd never done before:
powerlifting.
At my first competition I qualified for Nationals and set California records in the back squat and bench press, resetting the bench record with each successful attempt. At Nationals and my third meet, I added more records; some of those lifts also stand as records in younger Masters divisions.
A few months after that first meet, I went to Nationals hoping I might make the podium. I ended up winning my division and qualifying for Worlds. I turned 56 a few weeks later.
I'm stronger today than I was in my 20s—deadlifting about 2.7 times my bodyweight, squatting close to 300lbs, and closing in on benching 100 pounds more than my bodyweight. Those numbers mean a lot to me, not because I think everyone should chase records, but because they're proof that age isn't necessarily a limiting factor.
That's what I hope people take from this journey. Getting older doesn't mean you have to surrender your strength or physical abilities. You can start something new at 40, 50, 60 or beyond.
BE BRAVE ENOUGH TO SUCK AT SOMETHING.
You don't have to be naturally talented. You don't have to start young. You don't even have to be good when you begin. Find something worth doing, keep showing up, and see where it takes you.
