A 78 year old grandmother is amazing viewers on the internet. She’s becoming famous for a video capturing her deadlifting 225 pounds.
Two years ago, 78-year-old Shirley Webb’s main form of physical activity came from mowing the lawn.
So she joined Club Fitness in Wood River, Illinois with her granddaughter to get a little more.
At the time, if she was on the floor, she couldn’t get up unless she was aided by a chair or a piece of furniture. She couldn’t climb stairs unless she held onto the railing.
Now, Webb says proudly, she can do both by herself, and a whole lot more.
She has received help from her trainer, John Wright, who said he has never helped someone her age with this kind of weightlifting before. Wright says it took Webb about six months into their training before she could lift in the 200-pound range. Now, Webb goes to the gym at least twice a week where’s she’s an inspiration to others.
She’s also set the Illinois record for deadlifting at 237 pounds, and the Missouri mark for 215 pounds, both in age and weight groups.
In June Webb is hoping to set an American record for deadlifting — which should be easy, because there’s no national record in her age group.
When asked if she had plans to take a break from lifting anytime soon, Webb, who turns 79 in August, quickly shut down that notion saying,
“I have no intention of stopping right now,” I feel tremendous.”