Women in Powerlifting
We don’t really get an opportunity to talk about historic women on 70’s Big, so I’d like to highlight some women lifters from the 1981 Women’s National Powerlifting Championships. You’ll see that these women were not only strong, but pretty good lookin’ too. All the numbers from this meet are in kilograms. All of the following women won their respective weight classes. And “(WR)” denotes a world record.
Terry Dillard
Terry Dillard squatted 137.5 (WR), benched 57.5, and deadlifted 145 for a 340 (WR) total. That’s a 302.5 pound squat for a 105.6 pound woman. She also won Best Lifter.
Gayla Crain
Gayla Crain, a 56 kg lifter, squatted 152.5, benched 70, and deadlifted 180 for a 402.5 (WR) total. Great hair. She’s my favorite of this bunch.
Vicky Gagne
Vicky Gagne competed in the 82.5 kilo class. She squatted 202.5 (WR), benched 115, and deadlifted 220 (WR) for a 537.5 total! That is a 445.5 pound squat and a 484 pound deadlift. In the picture, she had been red lighted on a 507 lb. deadlifted, and said, “It’s ok, I’ll get it next time.” Kinda cute.
Wanda Sander
Wanda Sander won the 82.5+ kg class with a 192.5 kg squat, 110 kg bench, and a 210 kg deadlift. Damn strong.
Who are your favorite female athletes?
28 Comments
June 13th, 2011 at 5:46 am
most WWE divas who are not fat nor taking gear.
June 13th, 2011 at 9:17 am
Unrelated, but this happened yesterday:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9sMq6d-1nUc
June 13th, 2011 at 9:30 am
I know she uses equipment, but Becca Swanson is definitely a fave, because she was also a pro wrestler and i think she’s going ot fight MMA soon too. Even though she lifted equipped, she is a true athlete in sports performance as well. tough lady.
June 13th, 2011 at 10:09 am
@Puke, nice lifts man! Very solid on all the attempts. Looks like you’ve got a lot of room to keep improving (I mean that in a good way).
June 13th, 2011 at 10:20 am
Alenka Bikar
22.76 in the 200 meter
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ckLVriR6Jl0
Lidia Valentin
250kg weightlifting total @ 75kg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDnXB6yZ7hI
June 13th, 2011 at 10:31 am
Thanks Dave!
June 13th, 2011 at 10:33 am
Gagne looks like a sweetie.
Try topping this one:
http://www.joeydevilla.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/marilou_dozois-prevost.jpg
June 13th, 2011 at 10:37 am
Not only a story on historic women but a historic post since this was a repeat from 2009 and 2010.
My favorite female athletes are the ones who bust their ass everyday trying to get stronger.
June 13th, 2011 at 10:45 am
Wow. They’re strong. I like gagne.
June 13th, 2011 at 12:23 pm
good post!
i have a few favorites, but one that stands out to me right now is Kim Clijsters, a top tennis player. she’s absolutely adorable, incredibly nimble, super fast, and plays with finesse. and of course, she’s mega hot. quite ripped.
anyway, another thing that makes her super cool is that she’s a mom, and somehow manages to balance home life with fame and a professional sports career.
check her out:
http://biggoss.com/clijsters-wins-u-s-open-for-two-straight-years-2010928.html
June 13th, 2011 at 1:11 pm
Good lifting, Puke. What federation were you lifting in?
June 13th, 2011 at 1:11 pm
Since I play volleyball, I’ve always been partial to Misty May. She’s a meatier chick and at 5’9″ fairly small for the vball world. She’s been kicking ass her whole life though, and will probably end up winning another gold medal next year.
June 13th, 2011 at 1:15 pm
Maria de la Puente:
NSFW
http://www.la-cronica.net/2008/11/25/deportes/f_18097.jpg
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x8moin_julia-rohde-vs-maria-de-la-puente-e_sport
Drop a NSFW tag if you’re gonna have partial or full nudity. A lot of guys look at the site at work, and we don’t need them getting in trouble.
–Justin
June 13th, 2011 at 1:20 pm
@Brisket
Thanks, I’m with the CPF, The Canadian affiliate of the WPC.
June 13th, 2011 at 3:04 pm
Natalie Freed
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h292/johnnytang24/20071119wabdlworlds0037.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/genexmagazine/3760746039/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7mMRSv-fRo
June 13th, 2011 at 3:05 pm
Zap was my favorite female American Gladiator. Now to Larry Thompson for the ruling…
June 13th, 2011 at 3:19 pm
I have a lot of respect for many woman tennis players being a high school player myself (back when I weighed 170). More specifically I think Allyson Felix is a beast and I like the way she trains.
I don’t know much about this woman but I bet she squats and I just really like this picture. It might be NSFW.
http://atletikas.webcindario.com/silke-spiegelburg-09.jpg
June 13th, 2011 at 3:28 pm
I have a whole host of favorite female lifters and strength athletes. Sioux-z Hartwig Gary is a legend. Jennifer Thompson is simply amazing as a 132lb raw lifter. Priscilla Ribic, one of the best female deadlifters of all time. Melanie Roach, who made the olympic team for weightlifting while running a gymnastics school and taking care of her kids, including one who has autism. Shannon Hartnett is a great all-around strength athlete who’s excelled in multiple disciplines. Really, any woman who dedicates herself to strength sports is a favorite of mine!
June 13th, 2011 at 4:24 pm
For anyone who is wondering (like I was), Puke = StillGrowing. Changed his name after puking during a deadlift, finishing the lift, then swallowing it.
June 13th, 2011 at 4:27 pm
Also, great work Puke!
June 13th, 2011 at 5:29 pm
I remember these pictures from a post here last year, great pics. I tried to find some info on them when you post lat time, but google wasn’t too fruitful.
Favourite female athletes, hmm tough one!
In no particular order, Chris Cyborg, Merlene Ottey definitely & Bia Mesquita.
June 13th, 2011 at 6:53 pm
Id have to say Christine Beauchamp.
how does my RDL set look? Added em to 5/3/1 squat and deadlift day to beef up hamstrings.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SoXtqeIgElk
June 13th, 2011 at 7:31 pm
Alison Stokke, Gina Carano, Gabrielle Reece
June 13th, 2011 at 11:41 pm
Lidia Valentin
Svetlana Podobedova
June 15th, 2011 at 8:40 pm
[...] Women in powerlifting (via 70sBig.com) [...]
June 23rd, 2011 at 9:04 pm
[...] Big has a short article titled Women in Powerlifting that is worth checking [...]
July 11th, 2011 at 4:02 pm
[...] most Mondays and they recently pulled together some images and information about lifters from the 1981 Women’s National Powerlifting Championships. Given that I would hope to drop fat to have a competition weight of 56kg the numbers for Gayla [...]
July 23rd, 2011 at 9:36 pm
Glad to see you are giving the woman some credit
World champions Sioux-z Hartwig Gary and Jennifer Thompson are featured in a new ebook…http://www.powerliftingforwomen.com/success.html