Older Women Embrace Strength Training, Powerlifting

Women in their late 60s through 90s are taking up strength training and powerlifting to build strength, confidence and independence. A 91-year-old woman is working with her musculoskeletal-specialist grandson on gradual, functional exercises tailored to her energy and health, while 90-year-old Margie Hennesy is training for a Hyrox competition and says she can push a 200-pound sled after months of preparation. In St. Louis, 69-year-old Sally Haas found a new goal in powerlifting after moving and feeling less active; in Des Moines, Elizabeth Hendrix began lifting after physical therapy for a knee injury and later deadlifted 185 pounds in competition. Their stories reflect a broader shift away from assuming older adults should only lift light weights, though experts emphasize that strength training can support muscle and independence without requiring competitive-level lifting. A woman in her 50s also describes turning to heavier weights after more familiar exercise and diet changes brought limited progress amid perimenopause.