Meet The Nonagenarian Who Is A Record-Breaking Weightlifter

Edith Murway holds the Guinness World Record for oldest competitive weightlifter. She turns 100 on Sunday. Murway started powerlifting at 91.

Transcript

A MARTINEZ, HOST:

You won't see Edith Murway competing at the Tokyo Olympics, but she is a record-breaking weightlifter.

STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:

Murway will be 100 years old on Sunday, and she recently became - I can't believe I'm saying this - the Guinness World Record holder for oldest competitive powerlifter.

EDITH MURWAY: I lifted 150 pounds. That was a deadlift off the ground, and that got everybody really interested in this little old lady who was busy trying to lift a bunch of weights.

MARTINEZ: All right, get this - Murway started powerlifting at the young age of 91, when her friend wanted a workout buddy.

MURWAY: And she dragged me kicking and screaming all the way to the gym.

INSKEEP: Murway then fell in love with the challenge and especially with competing.

MURWAY: This probably sounds silly, but the thing I like the most is the applause. When people like what I'm doing and they wave their hands and yelp and screech, I feed on that.

MARTINEZ: All performers feed on that. Now, COVID's kept Murway from those adoring fans and her trainer for over a year, but now she's back, preparing for a meet in November.

MURWAY: It's like starting all over again, but it's a challenge, and it's a lot of fun. And it's something that I never thought I would ever be doing. And here I am doing it.

INSKEEP: Indeed she is. She says she feeds on applause, so here we go, Edith. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.