Shirley Webb, 78, can deadlift 225 pounds

By
RACHEL MARCUS via <a href="http://espn.go.com/" title="ESPN" class="espn_sc_byline">ESPN </a>
via
March 28, 2016, 6:23 PM ET
2 min read

— -- Two years ago, 78-year-old Shirley Webb's main form of physical activity came from one chore: mowing the lawn.

"That's about the only exercise I ever got," said Webb, who is becoming famous for a video capturing her deadlifting 225 pounds.

It was about two years ago when she joined Club Fitness in Wood River, Illinois, with her granddaughter.

At the time, if she was on the floor, she couldn't get up unless she was aided by a chair or a piece of furniture. She couldn't climb stairs unless she held onto the railing.

Now, Webb says proudly, she can do both by herself.

She has received help from her trainer, John Wright, who said he has never helped someone her age with this kind of weightlifting before. Wright says it took Webb about six months into their training before she could lift in the 200-pound range. Now, Webb goes to the gym at least twice a week.

"She's gotten to the point where everybody greets her and is just absolutely impressed," Wright said. "She inspires everybody that goes to the gym and it's fun to see that."

Webb lives across the river from St. Louis in East Alton, Illinois, which has allowed her to set records in both Illinois and Missouri. She has set the Illinois record for deadlifting at 237 pounds, and the Missouri mark for 215 pounds, both in age and weight groups.

In June in St. Louis, Webb is hoping to set an American record for deadlifting -- which should be easy, because there's no national record in her age group.

When asked if she had plans to take a break from lifting anytime soon, Webb, who turns 79 in August, quickly shut down that notion.

"I have no intention of stopping right now," Webb said. "When I go to the gym and work out, when I leave, I feel so much better than I did when I went in, and I just feel so good. I feel tremendous."

Update: A fellow heavy lifter has chimed in with a salute to Webb going "Beast Mode" at 78.

I'm just trying to live to 78, much less deadlift at 78. Touché to you Shirley! #BeastMode https://t.co/z4fSPVqL1F

- JJ Watt (@JJWatt) March 29, 2016

I'm just trying to live to 78, much less deadlift at 78. Touché to you Shirley! #BeastMode https://t.co/z4fSPVqL1F