12 June 2023 , 18:11
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A bodybuilding granny has shocked other gym goers by lifting three times the weight men half her age can.
Nora Langdon, 79, is a professional powerlifter from Michigan but she didn't start lifting weights until she was in her 60s.
Despite not even knowing what powerlifting was until after she retired from real estate, the strong grandmother can outlift men much younger than her.
She told Refinery29: "I feel strength when I power lift — it tells me I can beat the world.
"I just want to inspire other women to take care of themselves."
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Nora Langdon, 79, retired from working in real estate in her 60s (jazzienora/Instagram)Growing up she never played sports so it is spectacular that she has worked up to being able to lift a staggering 338lbs (153kg).
For powerlifters in her age group, this is a record-breaking achievement.
She came to the sport in 2006 after working in real estate for 30 years.
As Nora got closer to retirement age, she began to realise she was getting tired going up stairs and opted for a lifestyle change.
"I was in bad shape," she previously told CBS News. "I weighed too much and I couldn't go downstairs without getting tired."
At a birthday party, Nora would meet the man who would eventually become her trainer — Art Little. Little is the husband of one of Nora's friends.
It wasn't long before the retiree became hooked.
Nora Langdon, 79, is a professional powerlifter and performs classic free weight lifts daily at the gym, including the bench press (jazzienora/Instagram)In her first competition, everyone saw Art loading up a bar imagining it was him going to lift, but then Nora stepped up.
Art said of Nora: "You got a 78-year-old lady squatting 300 pounds — doing any kind of squatting is amazing, but to do that type of weight, half the guys in the gym can't do that.
"And I'm talking about young, 18- to 20-year-olds, so yeah, that's impressive."
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Nora was almost convinced to give up on her new found passion when initially starting but shares that she heard a voice telling her to go back and carry on with her latest challenge.
Since then, she has won around 25 awards at state, national, and world levels.
Nora can powerlift more than most men half her age (jazzienora/Instagram)Nora is soon heading to the 2023 national and world competitions for powerlifting in her age bracket.
To support herself going to competitions, she works for Uber Eats but also fundraises among her fans.
In a recent video posted on her Instagram, Nora thanked supporters for donating.
One fan wrote on social media: "You're absolutely fantastic. There’s no one like you."
Another said: "I donated! I hope it helps! I feel bad that you have to do Uber Eats to pay for your trip to Nationals & Worlds. But you are the definition of resilience and getting it done! God bless you!"
A GoFundMe page linked in her Instagram bio has raised $1000 of the $10,000 goal listed.
"Nora is continuing on with her powerlifting experience, the woman has no quit in her," the fundraiser reads.
Her ultimate goal, however, is to improve her craft.
At competitions, Nora said she sees younger women squatting 400-500 pounds — she wants to get to that level.
"Age is no number," she said. "If you got the strength and the willpower to do it, you can do it."
"I'm not ready to quit," she continued. "I'm going to keep going until the good Lord take me home."