62-Year-Old Breaks Weightlifting Record After 7 Years Bedridden

Seven years ago, Michelle Galloway couldn't hold her grandbabies without pain. Today, at 62, she's carrying them on hikes and hoisting world records in Olympic weightlifting.

The Meridian, Idaho YMCA instructor just won her division at the 2026 IMWA World Masters Weightlifting Championships in Athens, Greece. She also reclaimed the Masters world record in the snatch, lifting 55 kilograms (121 pounds) to beat a competitor from Australia who had previously taken her title.

Galloway's path to the podium started in the hardest place imaginable. She spent seven years bedridden with an undiagnosed illness that left her body screaming with pain.

"My back hurt, my feet hurt. I couldn't hold my grandbabies for very long," Galloway said. "Everything just hurt."

After finally beginning to recover, Galloway moved to Boise and discovered the Highland Games. She signed up for a kettlebell class and started training consistently, which eventually led her to Olympic-style weightlifting.

The transformation happened fast. Galloway went from competing in 15 events in one year to qualifying for national and world competitions.

When she turned 60, she looked up the world records for her age group and couldn't believe what she saw. The numbers were weights she lifted regularly in training.

"I showed them to my coach," she said. "I'm like, 'Are these real? These are numbers that I do all the time.'"

She broke all three world records in Finland. When she lost the snatch record to an Australian competitor, Galloway decided she wanted it back.

In Athens, her coach called for 55 kilograms on her final attempt. Galloway didn't hesitate.

"Coach said 55. I said, let's go," she recalled. "Put 55 on the bar. I lifted it and I got the world record back."

Why This Inspires

For Galloway, the medals and records aren't the real victory. A couple of years ago at Jump Creek, she carried two grandbabies at once, one on her shoulder and one on her hip, while walking across stepping stones.

"That's my gold medal," she said.

Tom Kudera, a YMCA coordinator who works with Galloway, said her example gives others hope that they can improve their quality of life too. She's proof that it's never too late to discover what your body can do.

Galloway now plans to continue training and competing while helping other women find their own strength, showing that the finish line can be just the beginning.