When it comes to swole grandmas we have some experience. We previously covered 81-year-old grandma, Shirley Webb, who went viral by deadlifting 102kg. But even we haven’t seen a grandma who can deadlift, bench and squat like a bodybuilder.
Until now.
(Related: This 74-year-old bodybuilder is taking over the internet)
Meet, 71-year-old, lecturer and grandmother, Dr Catherine Walter, who has been dubbed the “powerlifting professor”.
Walter earned the title by benching 43.24kg, deadlifting 105kg and squatting 100kg, which makes her a fully-paid-up member of the 500lbs club. But more impressive than being part of an imaginary club for people who can deadlift, squat and bench more than 500lbs, Walter, who only took up powerlifting six years ago, holds world records in all three lifts.
(Related: 2 moves that trigger huge muscle growth)
“I have the bone density of a 21-year-old, and that is largely down to my weightlifting,” Walter said to the Oxford Mail.
To achieve her impressive lifts, Walter trains twice a week, focussing on volume in one session and intensity in the other. Six-years-ago though, Walter was, by her own admission, apprehensive about even venturing into her gym’s free-weights section.
(Related: This 20-minute circuit will obliterate your arms)
“I was complaining to one of my sons that I was getting older, I wasn’t as fit as I should be, and I didn’t have time to go to the gym – all that sort of stuff,” said Walter, recounting how her life-changing foray into powerlifting began. “He said to me ‘you ought to think about lifting heavy weights’.”
(Related: The two moves that will kepp you fit for life)
In one of the best maybe-I-will moments we’ve ever heard of, Walter did and now she’s a world champion and swole grandma. Her next challenge is trying to coax other men and women her age to give resistance training a go.
“It not only helps your bones, but muscles start to deteriorate after the age of 40. Running won’t help; swimming won’t help. The only thing that will keep your muscles consisting of muscle fibres instead of degenerating is resistance training.”
It’s your set.
