Shelly Stettner, one of the greatest Masters powerlifters in the world, has proven that age is just a number. At 72 years old, she recently achieved new personal records (PRs) in both squat and bench press. Shelly shared her accomplishments on Instagram, where she showcased her strength and determination to the world.
Shelly Stettner’s first PR was a squat of 265 pounds (120.2 kilograms). She put on knee sleeves and a lifting belt, dropped under the barbell, and easily lifted the weight. Shelly then went on to achieve another personal record in the bench press. After a few warm-up sets, she lifted 155 pounds (70.3 kilograms), the heaviest she has ever lifted. Although it was not as easy as her squat PR, the bench press still looked quite comfortable for Shelly.
Shelly Stettner is currently preparing for the 2023 Powerlifting America (AMP) Masters Raw Nationals, which will take place on June 2-3 in Phoenix. Shelly won the AMP Nationals last year and is now coming back to defend her title. She has also claimed other titles that have lifted her to the status of the sport’s greatest athlete. Most notably, Shelly won the 63-kilogram weight class of the 2022 IPF World Masters Classic & Equipped Powerlifting Championships. In addition, she set four new masters IPF World Records at the Masters’ Championships.
Shelly Stettner hopes to defend both her National and World titles this year. Judging by her new PRs, she also has the potential to break some more World Records. Overall, Shelly has taken part in nine sanctioned powerlifting competitions and won eight of them. What makes her achievements even more impressive is that she began competing at 68-years-old and is now better than ever before.
Shelly Stettner’s competition PRs are as follows: Squat: 115 kilograms (253.5 pounds) — (2022 AMP Nationals), Bench Press: 68 kilograms (149.9 pounds) — (2022 IPF World Masters Classic & Equipped Powerlifting Championships), Deadlift: 147.5 kilograms (314.1 pounds) — (2021 USAPL Virginia Pro), Total: 325.5-kilogram (717.6-pound) — (2022 IPF World Masters Classic & Equipped Powerlifting Championships).
Shelly Stettner’s competition history shows her personal bests and competition results. She has encountered some difficulties during her preparation for the 2023 AMP Nationals, working around problems with injuries and new rulesets. However, none of these setbacks have been enough to stop Shelly, who has proven that age is just a number when it comes to achieving one’s goals. Her strength, determination, and accomplishments serve as an inspiration to powerlifters and athletes of all ages and backgrounds.
