It’s never too late to start something new! Terry Shanley, from Lake Oswego, joined us to share how he went from training in April, to breaking state records in August. Competing in his first powerlifting meet at age 70, Shanley set four Oregon state powerlifting records, hit personal records in all three lifts and qualified for the 2026 IPL World Championship.
The moment that truly launched, though, wasn’t measured in pounds. After finishing his squat and preparing to rerack the bar, Shanley looked toward his mother, Frankie Shanley, 91, and gave her a confident wink. His daughter, Madison Shanley, captured and posted the moment on her Instagram account, where the original video quickly became known as “The Wink That Went Around the World.” It now has 5.7 million views!
Behind the viral clip is a lifelong athlete who isn’t letting age write the script. Shanley began training seriously for competitive powerlifting on April 20, 2026. Four months later, he entered the United States Powerlifting Association Tested and Open 2K26 Summer Showdown, held August 29 at Forever Strong Performance Fitness in Springfield, Oregon. There, he set four Oregon state powerlifting records — in the squat, bench press, deadlift and total.
Competing in the 110-kilogram (242-pound) weight division, Shanley recorded official lifts of 303 pounds in the squat, 303 pounds in the bench press and 347 pounds in the deadlift for a 953-pound total. He then used optional fourth attempts to raise his Oregon state records to 314 pounds in the bench press and 363 pounds in the deadlift. Under competition rules, those fourth attempts established higher records but did not count toward his official total. Shanley also received the USPA Best Lifter award and earned the qualifying total needed to advance to the IPL World Championship.
Now 71, Shanley will compete at the IPL World Championship on Sunday, November 22, at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino. His goals are straightforward: break the world record in the bench press and join powerlifting’s coveted 1,000-pound club.
“I’ve been a lifelong athlete, always challenging myself to stay strong and keep moving,” Shanley said. “I’m just trying to keep the old man out.” Shanley competed in wrestling, football and track in his younger years and kept strength and fitness central throughout his life. While weight training has long been part of his athletic foundation, competitive powerlifting is a new pursuit — one he didn’t begin until age 70. Before retiring, the Gold Beach, Oregon, native built a career in commercial construction, development and real estate. He now lives in Lake Oswego with his wife, Della.
Guiding Shanley is 77-year-old Rudy Kadlub, an eight-time World Powerlifting Champion and USPA Hall of Fame powerlifter who will also compete in Las Vegas as he pursues his ninth world title.
For Shanley, the emotional center of the story remains his mother, Frankie, who attended nearly all his athletic competitions when he was younger, especially during his wrestling years. Her presence at his first powerlifting meet brought his athletic journey full circle. “She is the heartbeat of our family and has always been steadfast in supporting all her children,” Shanley said. “With all respect to my wife and daughters, she is my biggest fan, and I am certainly hers.”
Now, they’re watching what comes next as Terry Shanley prepares to take on the world. You can follow his journey on Instagram:
