‘World’s strongest gran’ turned ‘addicted’ to lifting and says age is only a quantity

A grandmother-of-four has shown the world that age is but a trifle, becoming a world champion powerlifter at the ripe old age of 70. Susan Sabuda, from Haltwhistle, Northumberland hits the gym for an impressive 10 hours a week, getting stuck into squats, bench presses, and deadlifts with weights that would make your eyes water.

Starting her journey into powerlifting at 64, she’s flexed her muscles internationally, from Canada to Lithuania. She confessed that people are usually “amazed” upon learning she’s a Team GB powerlifter given her vintage.

This retired gardener scooped the top spot in the IPF World Masters Powerlifting Championships’ masters four division. Overwhelmed by her triumph, Susan expressed: “Knowing I’m world champion is quite hard to take in, it’s quite overwhelming. People are always really amazed, which I really appreciate because it’s so kind.”

She defies any age-related stereotypes, stating: “Most people assume there’s certain things that I should or shouldn’t do but it’s not exclusive to the younger generation.”

While previously dabbling in athletics and bodybuilding in her youth, she took a break, finding it highly addictive, reports the Mirror.

However, when ET Fitness popped up near her, she couldn’t resist the lure of the weights saying, “There was no getting away from weights, I used to like working out with weights.

“It makes you feel good and with bodybuilding, you can change how you look so I found it really fascinating. But then I became addicted so dropped out but I really missed the weights.

“When I went into ET Fitness, I felt like I was at home because of the weights and then I was introduced for powerlifting. I did my first competition and thought it was fabulous and it’s just snowballed from there really.”

Susan started competing for Team GB in 2020, which she says she “never thought” would happen. She said that she felt “blown sideways” when she got the invite to represent her country.

She added: “Everyone was so lovely and inclusive, they just pulled me into their family. You don’t compete against each other, you are there to compete as a team for our country. I’m really proud to be able to do it.”

Susan is now encouraging other older people to take up powerlifting and says that it’s helped her get “stronger bones” and become “more mobile.”

She said: “I’m an older lifter so I’m learning that I can still do things.

“The result of powerlifting is that you end of getting stronger bones, more mobility and I’ve had four children so my body is getting pulled back into where it should be. I’m also surrounded by like-minded people.

“I then started competing for Team GB and was also surrounded by like-minded people and I started seeing different parts of the world. I have another family now, because this is so family-orientated.”