Grandmas are often associated with baking cookies and knitting sweaters, but not Willie Murphy. Instead, the 77 year old grandma, weighing only 105 pounds, spends her time working out, toning her muscles, and dead lifting up to 215 pounds. Murphy is proof that age does not equal weakness, but instead should inspire individuals that are younger than she is. Her passion for life and fitness keeps her feeling young and ready to take on each day.
Willie Murphy lives in Maplewood, New Jersey, and has worked hard to keep her body in tip top shape. At 77 years old, she is a world champion power lifter, according to PopSugar . Her physical fitness is more than inspiring, it is a message to everyone that restrictions are set in the mind, not determined by who or what we are. Her massive arms and powerful speeches don’t show signs of slowing down anytime soon. When asked if she ever feels weak, she simply states, “I don’t need help carrying the groceries,” meaning she is doing just fine.
Murphy’s hard work and dedication has earned her a place as the 2104 Lifter of the Year from the World Natural Powerlifting Federation, according to Jezebel . Her dedication to weightlifting has inspired many in the health world and many others to start a fitness routine. When asked about her inspiration, she says that doing her best is inspiration enough.
“I never use the word ‘I can’t. I would just simply say, ‘I will try.’ That’s the way I live my life, just trying to do my best every day.”
Murphy is self taught and self trained in her sport. She started only a few years ago with 5 pound weights. She didn’t think about competitive weightlifting until she saw a competition at the Metro Carlson Y. She thought it looked fun and asked an employee if she could participate, to which she received the response, “Go for it, granny.”
A reporter at the competition tried to match her pound for pound. The newspaper columnist weighed 15 pounds more than Murphy, but couldn’t dead lift 100 pounds. Murphy didn’t berate or ridicule her though; instead, she gave support.
“Don’t worry, she told me. Everybody has to start somewhere.”
Murphy is adamant to let people know that none of her strength is artificial; she refuses to take steroids or any other enhancing aids.
Murphy has become a local celebrity and an idol to many. Many approach her to ask for fist bumps and autographs, but none offer to carry her groceries.
“They see I’m old and I’m not being pushed around in a wheelchair. I can shovel my own snow. And I can push my car if it gets stuck in the snow… I’m almost 80 years old and I am still living life.”
[Photo Courtesy: Sport 360 ]
