It has been quite the week for strong septuagenarian women. 72-year-old CrossFitter Joke Dikhoff qualified for the 2022 NOBULL CrossFit Games, scheduled for Aug. 3-7, 2022, and now powerlifter Mary Duffy is making waves on social media for her double-take-worthy trap bar deadlift.
The 73-year-old Duffy deadlifted 113.4 kilograms (250 pounds) with an additional 22.7 kilograms (50 pounds) in chains in a video posted to her Instagram page on July 27, 2022. According to Open Powerlifting, Duffy has competed in the 56-kilogram class since 2015. That means her training deadlift is 2.4 times her competition bodyweight. Duffy wore a lifting belt and wrist wraps for the pull. Check it out below:
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Per Open Powerlifting, Duffy has spent her seven-year powerlifting career in the 56-kilogram class. Since making her competitive debut at the 2015 International Powerlifting Association (IPA) Connecticut Ironman Push/Pull Showdown, where she won gold. Duffy has appeared in 11 meets. She holds a perfect competitive record of 11 wins*.
In the Masters 70-74 raw division, Duffy holds the third heaviest total ever of 235 kilograms (518.1 pounds) from her performance at the 2022 USAPL Connecticut Ladies of Iron. At that meet, she scored a world record bench press of 57.5 kilograms (126.8 pounds).
*Note: Duffy has competed in multiple age categories in several of her sanctioned meets. The lone blemish on an otherwise perfect resume is a second-place rank at the 2016 Connecticut State Championships in the Amateur Open division. She won the Amateur Masters 65-69 division at that contest.
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[Related: Powerlifter Kristy Hawkins (75KG) Deadlifts 285-Kilogram (628.3-Pound) Raw PR In Training]
Duffy’s trap bar deadlift isn’t the first time she has deadlifted in range of that weight. A week before her trap bar deadlift, she pulled 111.1 kilograms (245 pounds) raw off weight plates (not as tall as blocks) in a narrow sumo stance with a mixed grip, as seen in the video above. Six weeks prior to that, before enduring a bout of COVID-19, she scored a 113.4-kilogram (250-pound) deadlift off weight plates cleanly. Her recent training suggests she is fully recovered and will be pulling even heavier in the future.
Featured image: @mduff2404 on Instagram
