Willie Murphy, 77, isn’t your average cookie-baking grandma. At a mere 105 pounds, she can deadlift twice her weight, reports the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle — and can open a serious can of whoop ass if needed.
Murphy won her division at the World Natural Powerlifting Federation World Championships this past November, but her fitness accomplishments don’t end there. She also took home the WNPF 2014 Lifter of the Year award, along with several first-place awards in various lifting exercises.
Weights aren’t the only thing Murphy kills it at, though. The super grandma can do one-handed push-ups and pull-ups as well as fingertip push-ups. I don’t know about you, but I can barely do normal push-ups — let alone any of these fancy adjustments.
“I can shovel my own snow,” Murphy told the Democrat & Chronicle. “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.”
Murphy began lifting four years ago after hearing about a lifting competition at a YMCA in Rochester, New York. She started out with 5-pound weights and gradually became stronger and stronger with time. She goes back to the YMCA three days a week to powerwalk.
Though she is admired and much-loved at her gym, Murphy’s life doesn’t just revolve around getting ripped with free weights; she’s also proud of being able to lift her grandchildren. But when there’s football game on, she eats pizza and drinks rum. Her strength is about more than just a number.
“I never use the word ‘I can’t.’ I will just simply say, ‘I will try,’” Murphy said. “That’s the way I live my life, just trying to do my best every day.”
