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Tribune News Service

At 95 years old, Catherine Kuehn was not just lifting weights. She was a competing powerlifter – one worthy of her own documentary.
Presented by The New Yorker, Strong Grandma follows Kuehn, of the US state of Oregon, as she reminisces about the love and loss of her husband while preparing for what may be her final competition.
According to powerlifting data archive Open Powerlifting, since 2015 she has put 10 victories under her belt in bench press and dead-lift competitions.
In 2022, she claimed a first place at the World Association of Benchers and Dead Lifters (WABDL) World Championships.












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“I have won every event that I have entered,” she said. “It’s been very easy for me to be world champion, which I do not feel [like], simply because no one my age was doing it.”
The viral world champion has been lifting weights for nearly 15 years, a hobby she shared with her husband, Dick.
“I wasn’t that adventurous on my own, but together we’d do anything,” she said. Skiing, jumping out of aeroplanes – for 61 years, their adventures were numerous and always memorable.
They met in 1959, but it took three months for Dick to work up the courage and ask her out.
“I fell for him immediately,” she added.
After a romantic date to see the action movie Ben-Hur, they were in love and got married two years later in 1961. Decades later, once the training was well under way, his support motivated her to gold.
“I remember my first meet. I was very nervous, scared spitless,” Kuehn laughed.

The inspiration to train came after Kuehn was diagnosed with a low-bone-density disease. Weightlifting was meant to build her bone strength back up.
“I started weightlifting, both my husband and I, in my eighties because I had osteopenia,” she said, of the bone-thinning condition that is a precursor to osteoporosis. “I was 85 the first time I competed.”
Dick has since died, but the near-century-old weightlifter does not do the workouts alone. When it comes time to break a sweat, her friend Peggy is there training by her side.
“Peggy fills the gap that I have without Dick,” She said. “Dick was my biggest supporter. He was all for it, and he was always on the front row rooting me on.”
So what does it take to be a 95-year-old powerlifter? Just keep moving.
“I have no idea what the secret is that I am 95 and still healthy,” she said. “Just keep moving. Don’t sit on the sofa and watch TV or be on your phone. Move as much as you can. That’s the only advice I have.”
Kuehn plans to compete until she is 100 years old.
Like what you read? Follow SCMP Lifestyle on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also sign up for our eNewsletter here.


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Wellness

She’s a 95-year-old world champion powerlifter. Her advice for ageing well? ‘Keep moving’

95-year-old world champion powerlifter Catherine Kuehn. Photo: YouTube

95-year-old powerlifter Cathrine Kuehn in 2022. The world champion says ageing well is about keeping moving. Photo: instagram.com/redmondspox

Kuehn says that moving, not sitting on the sofa and watching TV, is the key to staying healthy into old age. Photo: montclairfilm.org

Oldest female American Ninja Warrior competitor on how she’s still getting stronger at 73

American actress and dancer MacColl is the oldest woman to compete in the long-running US sports entertainment reality show American Ninja Warrior. Photo: Elizabeth Morris/NBC via Getty Images

MacColl even “hangs out” on monkey bars installed in the kitchen while preparing cups of tea. Hanging is good for your health, and grip strength is a biomarker of longevity, MacColl writes on Instagram. Photo: Instagram/ginnymaccoll  

It is never too late to start strength training, says MacColl, who did her first pull-up at the age of 63. Photo: Instagram/ginnymaccoll

MacColl regularly works out on obstacle course challenges – such as stepping from post to post above a swimming pool – to stay fit and nimble as she ages. Photo: Ginny MacColl  

MacColl trains on a makeshift outdoor zip line, training for ninja warrior competitions. Photo: Ginny MacColl 

MacColl and her daughter Jessie Graff show their strength at the world premiere of Poms in Los Angeles on May 1, 2019. Photo: Getty Images

MacColl hangs with her daughter Graff during training in 2017 – the year MacColl made her first appearance on American Ninja Warrior. Photo: Instagram/jessiegraffpwr

MacColl works out with her daughter on a climbing wall at Graff’s home. Photo: Instagram/ginnymaccoll

50 half marathons since he started at 58, a strength training newbie who’s 88 – how to age well

Kiron Kukreja works out at Ikigai Health. 
Photo: Ikigai Health

Venkatesh Prabhu started started weight training in 2007 and running a year later. He is proof that old age should not keep people from finding their way to fitness.
Photo: Venkatesh Prabhu

Prabhu with his grandsons after running the Standard Chartered Marathon in Mumbai. Photo: Venkatesh Prabhu

Prabhu strength training at the gym. Photo: Venkatesh Prabhu 

 Prabhu with his daughter, Bhakti Naik. Photo: Venkatesh Prabhu

Prabhu with his cache of medals from more than 50 half marathons and six marathons. Photo: Venkatesh Prabhu

Prabhu running the New York Marathon in 2014. Photo: Venkatesh Prabhu 

Kiron Kukreja works out at Ikigai Health. Photo: Ikigai Health

Kiron Kukreja with Naik. Photo: Ikigai Health

How strength training helps women ward off sarcopenia, the age-related loss of muscle mass

Dylis Li, 64, works out at Pherform in Hong Kong with the women-only gym’s owner, Stephanie Poelman. Photo: Jonathan Wong

(From left) Dr Gira Patel, Dylis Li and and Dr Laurena Law work out at the women-only Pherform gym in Central, Hong Kong. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Li works out with Pherform gym owner Stephanie Poelman. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Law works out at Pherform in Central. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Law works out at Pherform. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Pherform owner Stephanie Poelman says many older women are unaware of the dangers of sarcopenia. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Patel (right) works out with Poelman. Photo: Jonathan Wong

(From left) Patel and Law work out with Poelman. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Law is also a body pump instructor and certified personal trainer. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Anne Hathaway’s weight loss journey: anti-inflammatory diet, intense exercise key to actress’ transformation for Catwoman in The Dark Knight Rises

Anne Hathaway at a Valentino fashion show in Rome, Italy, in 2022. The actresshas talked about how she lost weight for her various movie roles. Photo: Getty Images

Hathaway as Catwoman in a still from The Dark Knight Rises. Photo: Warner Bros

To control her blood sugar, Hathaway ate avocados, almonds, sesame seeds, plain chocolate, bright red and orange vegetables high in antioxidants like yams, dark leafy greens, plus ginger and turmeric. Photo: Shutterstock

Hathaway on the set of The Devil Wears Prada. Photo: Getty Images 

Hathaway in a still from Les Misérables. Photo: Universal Pictures

Lifestyle

Health & Wellness

Health

Catherine Kuehn began weightlifting to avoid osteoporosis and has not looked back. ‘Strong Grandma’ shares how to stay healthy into old age


Catherine Kuehn began weightlifting to avoid osteoporosis and has not looked back. ‘Strong Grandma’ shares how to stay healthy into old age.


How to age well

Ageing society

She’s a 95-year-old world champion powerlifter. Her advice for ageing well? ‘Keep moving’

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Catherine Kuehn began weightlifting to avoid osteoporosis and has not looked back. ‘Strong Grandma’ shares how to stay healthy into old age

Catherine Kuehn began weightlifting to avoid osteoporosis and has not looked back. ‘Strong Grandma’ shares how to stay healthy into old age