| Name |
| Susan Elwyn |
| Age |
| 72 in August |
| Weight Class |
| either 47 or 52 kg |
| Where do you live? |
| Truro, Ma and Sarasota Fl |
| Squat PR: |
| As an M3 & 4 , 102.5 geared & 88 raw in comp. 200 lbs raw and 245 geared in the gym. |
| Bench PR: |
| 55 geared & 47.5 raw in comp. 125 & 115 in the gym. (This is after hurting my shoulder which happened in 2010.) |
| Deadlift PR: |
| 130 kg geared & 120.5 raw in comp. 290 lbs & 265 lbs in gym. |
| Clean & Jerk PR: |
| haven’t done any since the 1980’s. Could easily jerk 135 but only cleaned it once. Never did rack jerks. |
| Snatch PR: |
| Could do about 90 or so when young. Don’t do overhead lifts now. |
| Years lifting? |
| 57 lifting. 43 competing |
| How did you come to powerlifting or Olympic lifting? |
| Lifted to build strength for Judo. A powerlifter at the gym suggested I do the lifts for more strength. Three years later, I tried a local meet & I was hooked. |
| Do you have any previous athletic or lifting experience? |
| Played a lot of sports (badly) for fun. I still do and still badly. |
| Do you compete? Why or why not? If you compete, what do you like most about the competitions? |
| I compete. I enjoy the excuse to travel and the chance to meet and hang out with other lifters; people who understand what I’m doing and don’t think I’m nuts. I compete both raw and geared in USAPL & IPF which is drug tested. |
| Equipped or Raw? |
| Tested |
| Do you have a coach or trainer? In person or online? How did you find your trainer/program? Do you have any advice for women looking for a trainer? |
| No coach. I listen to my body and train accordingly which I can do after all this time. If you want a coach go to a gym and watch the coach{es} train other lifters. You will get a feel for how they relate to the students and if they really know their stuff or if they are just wind bags. |
| Where do you train? Gym, garage? |
| When I wasn’t competing, I trained at home. I train at a gym now that I’m back competing again. I train at the city owned Rec facility when I’m in Sarasota and at the Rec dept gym in P-town (it’s technically part of the Sr. Ctr.) when I’m on the Cape. I am the only powerlifter at either place. |
| What is the hardest part about beginning lifting as an older woman? |
| I wouldn’t know since I started at 15 and it’s been a part of my life ever since. My guess would be overcoming inertia and negative thoughts and just doing it. |
| How has lifting affected your health? |
| Positively. Most women my age look and act old enough to be my mother. A few days ago when I was walking on Commercial St. in P town, a guy said to me “Did you work out at Pep’s Gym in Maynard back in the 70’s & 80’s?” I said, yes. He told me his name and said he recognized me from then – 35 to 40 years ago. I think lifting is the fountain of youth. |
| What would you tell women just beginning this journey? |
| Don’t expect overnight results or miracles. Take your weight and measurements when you start. Then avoid the scale and tape measure for 6 months. Just work out regularly and don’t miss workouts. After 6 months, look in the mirror, step on a scale, take your measurements and you will be very pleasantly surprised. |
