Nora Langdon may be nearing her 80s but she is just blowing our minds and proving that age is just a number. At 78 years old, the Michigan resident is a powerlifting star holding 19 world records and can bench over 200 lbs.
It all started in 2007. Langdon, who was a realtor at the time, wanted to get in shape so she went to the Royal Oak Gym. “It was intimidating but I said I’m not going to look at everybody else, I’m just going to look at my trainer and keep going,” said Langdon.
Art Little is Langdon’s coach. He told Fox 2 how Langdon got into powerlifting. “She watched us getting ready for a powerlifting meet and asked a question I’ll never forget it; ‘Do you have any old broads doing that?’ And I said ‘Yeah,'” Little said. “She came and watched us at the meet and said she wanted to do it.”
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Langdon was then 65. But being determined as she was, she started with the basics of lifting with her coach. Langdon, at that moment, found a new passion — weightlifting. Today, while most septuagenarians are retiring, Langdon keeps achieving success and setting world records as she pursues her career in fitness. Some of her wins include the 2008 International Powerlifting Federation (IPF) World Masters Powerlifting Championships, the 2012, 2016, and 2018 World Powerlifting Congress (WPC) World Championships, and the 2019 APF Nationals.
Last year, she had to put her powerlifting plans on hold due to the pandemic though she was able to compete early that year at the 2020 American Powerlifting Federation (APF) Michigan State Meet.
Langdon said she deadlifts close to 400 pounds- squats 380 and bench presses up to 185. “When I squat this is what I say, I say ‘Holy Spirit fall on me,’ and I just do it and I come right on up,” she said.
The 78-year-old star is surely living a long and healthy life and staying active in the process. Anyone can do that too, irrespective of their age, she said. “Get up off that couch, go walking, walk a mile starting, then you can end up with five miles,” Langdon advised. “You just have to be consistent and keep doing it and don’t let your mind or people tell you you can’t.”
To her coach, Langdon has been an asset to the gym and to the whole powerlifting field. “To see somebody at that age doing what she’s doing it’s a blessing,” Little said.
In a video clip posted to @powerliftinglegends on Instagram, Langdon is seen squatting a colossal 159kg (350 lbs). “78 years young – Nora Langdon dunking 159kg/350lbs. Strongest granny right there,” the caption reads.
“Her best squat in competition is 413lbs at 76yo and 189lbs BW – 2.2x Bodyweight.”
