At 74, Lakeland Senior Who Set World Record Proves Strength Has No Limit
by SHAYLYNN MARKS
Weighing in at 98 pounds and measuring 5’1”, Lakeland senior Nancy Georges is not what you’d expect. In fact, the 74-year-old is something of a local legend after she recently deadlifted 210.5 pounds — more than twice her own body weight — setting a world record in her age and weight division. Her success comes as a reminder that strength can be trained at any age.
Finding Strength After Retirement
Georges, a retired Polk County elementary school teacher, didn’t originally join a gym with plans to compete. She started by following her husband’s encouragement to move more, then found a group class, Les Mills BODYPUMP.
“That’s what kind of introduced me to weightlifting,” she says. “That’s a really good beginner program.”
As lifting became more than a class, she transitioned to All American Gym in Lakeland, where her training was more closely focussed on strength.
“I just kind of got addicted to it,” she says.
Not long after, her trainer encouraged her to look at the records for her age group — including a 135-pound deadlift. Georges says she couldn’t help but laugh.
“I was like, ‘Oh my God, I can do that.’ ”
Training for Longevity
Georges trains three days a week at All American Gym, an old-school, no-frills facility built around machines, barbells, and free weights.
As she has progressed, she says, her training has become more intentional.
“I’ve learned that the older I get, I’be got to be more careful,” she says. “I don’t do quite as many reps.”
Warmups, Georges explains, are essential. She also emphasizes that patience with recovery is non-negotiable.
“The few times I have had injuries, I’ve learned it just takes a little bit longer to recover,” she says.
From Meets to Hawaii
She has now competed in more than 40 meets across the country.
“My two biggest ones were just this past summer, I went to the National Senior Games in Des Moines, Iowa,” she says. “That was really fun.”
In November, she and three other lifters from the gym traveled to Hawaii for the World Association of Bench Pressers and Deadlifters World Championships.
For Georges, it was a chance to test herself on a world stage surrounded by a supportive community of competitors.
The One-Pound Record
Her first attempts in November came within 1 pound of the world record, after which she was encouraged to aim for the record.
The gap was small, and that margin is part of what makes powerlifting intense.
“It’s still scary that a 1-pound difference could make or break it,” she says. “But I did it, and it was worth it.”
Her trainer Ken Snell, who is also co-owner of All-American Gym, says watching Georges succeed has motivated other older adults in the gym.
“It’s so inspirational to see somebody excel like she has,” he says. “Our elderly population can do so much better just by continuing to exercise.”
Senior Games, Same Weight
A few months later, Georges stepped back onto a platform closer to home at the Polk Senior Games.
“I hadn’t pulled 210 pounds since that meet in November, so I was happy that I could do it again!”
Beyond the medals, she says the Senior Games felt like a reminder of what is possible.
“It’s so inspiring to see all these people that are older than me … and they’re still out there lifting, trying, and pushing,” Georges says.
Why Staying Active Matters
Snell works with many older clients, and he says the benefits of strength training show up in the ordinary tasks people want to keep doing on their own.
He points to clients who notice changes in the most practical ways.
“One lady said, ‘You know what I can do now? … I can pick up a case of bottled water out of the trunk of my car and bring it in the house,’” he says.
Weight-bearing exercise can support bone density as people age, he says, and building muscle can make daily life feel more manageable.
A Simple Place to Start
For upper-body strength, Snell recommends starting with very light dumbbells — even 1- or 2-pound weights — and keeping the movements simple.
“They could sit in a chair,” he says, and do “shoulder presses,” then push the weights “straight out” like a seated chest press.
Keeping the Goal in Sight
Georges said she plans to keep competing as long as she can.
Her inspiration revolves around a Senior Games competitor who started at 92 and made it into the Guinness Book of World Records at age 100.
“I want to be like her. Just wow…to be that old lady that people point to at the Senior Games.”
Snell says Georges’ example reflects what he tells older clients who feel hesitant about starting: “Even if you don’t set a record every meet, you’re still maintaining your strength, which we all need, especially as we age,” he says.
Georges says she hopes other seniors read her story and realize persistent effort can grow into a routine that makes daily life feel easier.
“We’re never too old to start this,” she says. “Start small — even bodyweight squats or modified pushups — and work your way up.”
Georges proves that no matter your age or size, showing up for yourself — one rep at a time — can change what you’re capable of.