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World's Oldest Competitive Powerlifter
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Mar 31, 2023
Edith Murway-Traina (USA, b. 8 Aug 1921) took up deadlifting and benching at 91 to indulge a friend who had “dragged her kicking and screaming” to the gym. The Floridian was soon hooked and began entering competitions. In her most recent event, on 10 Nov 2019, she placed second in her class with a 60‑lb (27.2‑kg) bench press aged 98 years, 94 days!
View Transcript
0:00
My legal name is Edith El
Murray, and I'm about to turn 100
0:17
I'm looking forward to that. I did grow up, wishing I
were Ginger Rogers so I could dance with Fred Astaire
0:26
He was my favorite dancer. I always love to
dance. Never quite make it to that category
0:34
but always enjoyed the experience. She's very
patient. She's fun. She likes to do things
0:44
She plays Majan. She loves to line dance. She loves
parties. I am this very wonderful friend, Carmen
0:54
She learned how to dance
and we had a lot of fun
0:58
I met Edith at a recreation center and I guess by at that time she
was probably around 68 she was running the place I taught everybody
1:10
who was used to be in the kitchen now knew how to come
out of the kitchen and learn how to dance I knew from
1:17
the get-go she was a really active person and if it
weren't for her the rest of us at the rec center
1:23
wouldn't have had as much fun as we did Carmen
thought it might be helpful if she did more exercise
1:30
So she talked me into going with her and I say that she dragged me kicking and screaming all
the way to the gym She likes to say that she was dragged into the gym kicking and screaming
1:45
She was not. You don't drag her anywhere. And I watched these ladies
and gentlemen picking up their bodies and their arms and their legs
1:55
And while I was watching those ladies
doing their thing, I thought I'm, I'm
2:01
just as well since I was there, so it shouldn't be a total
loss. I might just as well pick up a few bars, so I did
2:09
And they got to be fun. And all you have
to do is suggest any activity to eat it
2:14
She's right there. Okay. So we
didn't know we would be powerlifting
2:19
But we got into the gym and one thing led to another. And she looks
around and anybody that's doing anything, she says, let me try that
2:29
So that's why she looks well. Going on a regular basis, I found that I was enjoying
it and I was challenging myself to get a little bit better and a little bit better
2:43
Before long, I was part of the team. Edith
kept going because she always keeps going
2:51
She will not quit. And anything that's
hard, that makes her more determined
2:56
If it's easy, she might get bored.
But if it's hard, she's going to do it
3:02
Nobody's going to tell her, oh, that's too hard for me. I was 91 and I started
actually lifting on a regular basis I never expected I would be in a competition
3:17
The announcer said, okay, ladies
and gentlemen, this is a big lift
3:22
And this person is 95 years old.
And we don't know if she can do it
3:27
And everybody's kind of holding their breath. And
she bent down and picked it up like it was her purse
3:32
Didn't expect any kind of awards or anything like that. And the
first time I got a trophy, I thought, oh, that's pretty neat
3:41
And everybody gets all excited. And as a performer and a dancer,
applause was always a very important part of my enjoyment
3:53
Because she loves the applause. And
any time she lifts away, people clap
4:00
As long as I could get a little
bit of applause, I was hands
4:06
happier each time I got more applause and more applause. Once people
found out I was in my 90s and I was doing all of these things
4:17
it got to be more noticeable. People
got to pay attention a little bit more
4:24
She's about, I'd say, I can't remember,
I'm sure, 95. And she deadlifted 150 pounds
4:30
She picked it up like it was nothing.
Lift is good for Edith Traynor
4:36
And I got more applause. And on we went give me applause and I happy November we
have a big meet I looking forward to that because Bill is getting me ready now
4:55
to go back to lifting my body and controlling
my balance. And he's a wonderful trainer
5:05
And a little bit at a time,
he got me working on it
5:09
So I'm expecting that in November. I will have another
trophy with a whole bunch of applause and take it from there
5:22
Our entire family is so honored that my mother is a record
holder and Guinness World Records has given her this honor
5:34
I think in my 90s I became more
aware of the need that people have
5:42
to be recognized for who they are
or what they are or how they are
5:49
And it's the most beautiful thing in the world.
And I think I survive on that, mostly, myself
5:59
We have a wide variety of people. They're
all seniors. Mostly they're inspired by Ed
6:05
They say, look, she's going
to be 100 in a few days
6:09
She can come in here and
work. We can. What a day
6:13
Give her a hand, ladies and gentlemen,
one hundred and ten pounds, 97 years young
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