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Record-Breaking Powerlifting Grandma Says She Feels Better Now Than 30 Years Ago

Record-Breaking Powerlifting Grandma Says She Feels Better Now Than 30 Years Ago

She joined a gym when she was 59 and hasn't looked back

Claire Reid

Claire Reid

A world-record-holding powerlifting granny says she feels better now than she did 30 years ago. Watch her deadlift below:

Mary Duffy, 71, started hitting the gym when she was 59 to try and lose a bit of weight and ended up falling in love with weightlifting.

Now she spends around 20 hours a week working out and lifting weights, while sharing her progress on her fitness Instagram, @mduff2404.

Mary says she's regularly told she's 'too old' to be into weightlifting, but keen to prove the doubters wrong, she holds world records in her age and weight category for deadlifting 250lbs as well as benching 125lbs and squatting 175lbs.

Mary, from Connecticut in the US, said: "I started seriously going to the gym ten years ago when I realised I'd put on a lot of weight - I remember it hit me when I looked in the mirror and thought 'that's not me'.

Bobby Calabrese/SWNS

"I quickly lost weight, and realised the more I trained, the more I enjoyed it - and that's the way it's been since then.

"I'm 71, but I'm the fittest I've ever been - I look and feel better now than I did when I was 40.

"I do get people telling me I'm too old for this, but my motto is 'you can't turn back the clock, but you can wind it back up'.

"Sometimes I ask myself 'why am I doing this?' but the negative comments are outweighed by the people who tell me I inspire them - and that's what keeps me going.

"I'm not the average 70-year-old - and I have no intention of giving up now!"

Mary says she had gone to the gym a bit in her younger years but didn't get 'seriously' into training until after she gained weight following her mother's death in 2007.

Mary Duffy/SWNS

Mary got herself a personal trainer and within a year had lost almost 4st.

Her trainer suggested she take up weightlifting and in 2014 she entered her first powerlifting competition, aged 64.

Since then she's not looked back and still regularly competes, while winning titles from the International Powerlifting Association in her age and weight category.

And despite her advancing years, she's got absolutely no plans to stop any time soon.

"I get a lot of people trying to tell me that I shouldn't be weightlifting at my age - but I just laugh and tell them to check out my records," Mary said.

Bobby Calabrese/SWNS

"There are times when I wonder why I push myself as hard as I do, for sure, but it's people's positive comments that keep me going.

"I don't want to look like the average 70-year-old grandmother, because I definitely don't feel like one.

"I don't think I'll ever quit powerlifting - not unless I absolutely have to.

"Even if I do stop competing, I'll still work out and keep in shape."

Featured Image Credit: Bobby Calabrese/SWNS

Topics: Inspirational, Interesting