Windsor Lawyer Breaks 3 World Records After Starting at 61
Jeanine Watt joined a gym at 61 thinking she'd do more than work her TV remote thumb. Eight years later, the Windsor lawyer holds three world bench press records and competes against athletes half her age.
When Jeanine Watt walked into a gym at 61, she figured she'd lift a few weights and stay active in semi-retirement. Today at 69, she's a three-time world record holder in powerlifting who's about to compete at the Arnold Sports Festival in Columbus, Ohio.
The Windsor lawyer didn't start with dreams of breaking records. She just wanted to move more than her thumb on the remote control. But Watt had always been drawn to challenges, from working as a stand-up comic to becoming a hypnotist alongside her legal career.
Bench pressing became her specialty, and she discovered she was naturally better at it than most women her age. Her current world record sits at 150 pounds. She's beaten the same Michigan competitor's records multiple times, though that athlete is still going strong in her 80s.
Watt trains with unusual equipment for grip strength competitions. She practices lifting a Saxon bar, essentially a three-by-four piece of wood with weights on the ends, forcing her hands into awkward positions. It's harder than it sounds.
Why This Inspires
Watt doesn't let arthritis in her thumbs or a significant rotator cuff tear stop her. She works around her injuries, manages inflammation through diet, and keeps pressing forward. At the upcoming Arnold Sports Festival, she'll be the oldest competitor on stage, lifting on the Coliseum floor alongside professional athletes.
She saw a 95-year-old man at the Iowa Senior Games walk up to the squat rack with his walker, complete his lift, then walk back to his seat. That's the spirit of powerlifting for seniors.
Grip strength is a proven marker for overall health and mortality. Watt's grip exceeds most women her age and most women period. She credits weightlifting with keeping her strong and healthy well into her late 60s.
Her advice is simple: women need to lift weights. It's good for bone health, overall strength, and apparently for breaking world records too. Some people slow down in their 60s, but Watt is just getting started.
She'll compete this month with one goal beyond medals: proving that 69 is just a number when you're strong enough to lift it.
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Based on reporting by Google News - World Record
This story was written by BrightWire based on verified news reports.
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