{"id":30041,"date":"2026-09-26T16:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-09-26T16:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/worldbodybuildingnews.com\/?p=30041"},"modified":"2026-09-26T16:00:00","modified_gmt":"2026-09-26T16:00:00","slug":"the-84-year-old-powerlifter-proving-strength-has-no-age-limit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/worldbodybuildingnews.com\/?p=30041","title":{"rendered":"The 84-year-old powerlifter proving strength has no age limit"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Justine began lifting weights to supplement her athletics training but was so taken with the discipline that she now powerlifts competitively \u2013 and is making history while she\u2019s at it.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy background is in athletics,\u201d she says. \u201cI used to compete in athletics at school and college. I took it back up again 15 years ago and compete in the discus, shot put, hammer, javelin and weight throw.\u201d<\/p>\n

As she got older, Justine noticed changes in her body that meant she needed to adapt her approach. \u201cI used to rely on speed and technique, but my speed was declining. Fast spins I could do a decade ago became more difficult, my knees were giving me trouble, and I noticed my legs were getting weaker. I needed to build strength.\u201d<\/p>\n

Investigating weightlifting first, Justine disliked the technical lifts and explosive power the discipline required. \u201cIt\u2019s very dynamic; snatch and press. Powerlifting is the application of power, without the speed. It\u2019s deliberate and controlled.\u201d<\/p>\n

Powerlifting focuses on building strength in the legs and core as well as pushing muscles such as the chest and triceps. Although Justine took it up to support her athletics, she enjoyed it so much she began competing.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m always competing against myself,\u201d she says. \u201cMy mum pushed me hard as a child and that mindset\u2019s stuck. Once I discovered there was a competitive structure to it, that was it \u2013 although it took me a year to get to the point where I could compete.\u201d<\/p>\n

Powerlifting consists of three lifts: the bench press (lowering a weight to your chest and holding until told to press), the deadlift (lifting a weighted barbell straight off the ground to hip level), and the squat (a weighted barbell is placed at the bottom of the back of the neck before squatting with the thighs parallel to the ground).<\/p>\n

\"Justine
Justine Whitaker competes in powerlifting as well as athletics, training across the squat, bench press and deadlift. Images: Louis at Lightchasers<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cThe lifts are relatively simple, but they have to be legal and safe,\u201d Justine says. \u201cWhen I started, it took me a year to get down low enough to the ground for a competitive squat, and several months to get my shoulders flexible enough to be able to hold the bar behind my neck. I only reached a competitive level a month before the Canterbury Championships!\u201d<\/p>\n

Justine trains once a week with coach James Schroder, whom she credits as instrumental in her success. \u201cHe\u2019s incredible and very conservative with me. If I do a personal best, for example, he doesn\u2019t push me for more \u2013 he always leaves some in the tank. I am his oldest pupil and he says it\u2019s been a good challenge adapting training to my physical limitations.\u201d<\/p>\n

It hasn\u2019t always been smooth sailing though. \u201cI once fell over backwards doing a squat. My centre of gravity was off. Fortunately my coach caught me!\u201d<\/p>\n

She\u2019s also less enthusiastic about the required competition uniform \u2013 a tight compression garment to ensure proper lifting mechanics. \u201cThe suits are expensive, and ugly!\u201d she laughs. \u201cThey make me look like a pregnant Oompa-Loompa!\u201d<\/p>\n

Athletics offers a more flattering outfit, and she continues to compete in both disciplines. Recently, Justine competed at the New Zealand Masters Athletics Track and Field Championships in New Plymouth, earning a clutch of medals a mere week before the powerlifting competition.<\/p>\n

Originally from Yorkshire in the UK, Justine has always lived an active life. She previously taught PE, and enjoyed a variety of sports, including trampolining, tennis, climbing and gymnastics. \u201cIt\u2019s good to learn new things,\u201d she remarks.<\/p>\n

At Summerset at Wigram, Justine organises the Summerset Games and plays both singles and double bowls. \u201cWhen I turned 80, I decided I was old enough,\u201d she laughs.<\/p>\n

Life for Justine is not all competitions and sport though. She has a strong creative streak and enjoys making costumes and outfits for herself and friends, particularly steampunk design. She also serves on the committee for the Fantasiers Festival in Christchurch.<\/p>\n

\"Justine
Away from competition, Justine Whitaker also makes costumes and outfits for herself and friends, including steampunk designs. Image: Louis at Lightchasers<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Along with Summerset at Wigram Activities Coordinator Nicki Singer, Justine choreographed the Summerset Shuffle, a light-hearted dance routine residents performed at the village\u2019s opening. \u201cI was the first woman to move in. It was the best decision I ever made.\u201d<\/p>\n

Since taking up powerlifting, Justine has noticed improved balance and has achieved several season bests in her competitions. Until recently, the highest age category in powerlifting was 70-plus \u2013 until Justine came along. \u201cFollowing my competition a couple of weeks ago, the Canterbury Powerlifting held an AGM and decided to create an 80-plus age range so that I can compete in that and set records!\u201d<\/p>\n

And set records she has. To compete in powerlifting requires \u2018making a total\u2019 across the three different lifts. In her recent competition, Justine made a total of 122.5kg, and is now the oldest competitor in New Zealand powerlifting history. And according to the International Powerlifting Federation, the second-oldest competing female \u2013 ever!<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I started, I had no idea where it would lead,\u201d Justine says. \u201cI just wanted to build my strength.\u201d<\/p>\n

This story first appeared in Summerset Scene<\/em><\/a> and has been republished with permission.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Justine began lifting weights to supplement her athletics training but was so taken with the discipline that she now powerlifts competitively \u2013 and is making history while she\u2019s at it. \u201cMy background is in athletics,\u201d she says. \u201cI used to compete in athletics at school and college. I took it back up again 15 years […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1534,"featured_media":30042,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"tdm_status":"","tdm_grid_status":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[273],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-30041","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-powerlifting-news"],"yoast_head":"\nThe 84-year-old powerlifter proving strength has no age limit - World Bodybuilding News<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/worldbodybuildingnews.com\/?p=30041\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The 84-year-old powerlifter proving strength has no age limit - World Bodybuilding News\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Justine began lifting weights to supplement her athletics training but was so taken with the discipline that she now powerlifts competitively \u2013 and is making history while she\u2019s at it. \u201cMy background is in athletics,\u201d she says. \u201cI used to compete in athletics at school and college. 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