Powerlifting grandmother is record breaking fitspiration as she's able to dead lift a staggering 255lbs at the ripe age of 80
The Powerlifting Grandma is 80 years old and works out four-times a week
Before working out at 76 she claims she was barely able to climb the stairs but now at 80 she can without a problem
Coining the nickname ‘Hercules the badass’ among her fellow fitness counterparts as a result of her super-human strength
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By Luke Kenton
This ‘fitspiration’ grandmother has been nicknamed ‘Hercules’, proving age is just a number by working out four-times a week and managing to dead-lift a staggering 255lbs (115 kg) – all at the ripe old-age of 80.
When Shirley Webb aka Powerlifting Grandma turned 76 she claims she was barely able to climb the stairs at home in East Alton, Illinois, without ‘clinging on with both hands’ on the bannister, to hoist herself up.
However, determined to reverse the effects of aging, Shirley signed up to her local gym along with her granddaughter four-years ago and she hasn’t looked back since.
Claiming the most exercise she used to get was ‘mowing the lawn’, the now 80-year-old can walk up the stairs completely unassisted, and also boasts an incredible dead-lifting record of 255lbs – a national record for her age.
Coining the nickname ‘Hercules the badass’ among her fellow fitness counterparts as a result of her super-human strength, the two-time national weightlifting champion urged others of her age group to defy society’s conceptions of age, when she spoke to Travis Hoefle from iwonder TV about her fitness transformation.
The powerlifting grandma begins her morning work-outs at 4 am, said: “I didn’t start exercising until I was 76-years-old, but the weights came easy for me.
“Before I started working out if I got on the floor, I couldn’t get myself up, and I couldn’t climb the stairs unless I used both hands on the handrail to pull myself up.
“Now I can walk right up the stairs and get up from the floor with no help at all.
“I’m an early riser and get up at 4 am, where three or four times a week my son and I will go into my basement and lift weights.
“I feel so much better after a work-out.
“[And now] I’m a two-time national champion and I hold six American records, and 25 records in Illinois.
“It makes me feel really good that I’m inspiring so many people – men in my competitions always say they hope they can do what I’m doing when they’re 80.”
Shirley’s son, Ed, added: “My mom and dad have always supported all sporting activities, so now it’s turned around, where we’re supporting her and her adventures.
“She enjoys the moment but still gets nervous about all the attention.”
Watch the video below, and be sure to subscribe to iwonder TV