Rebecca Woody is 70 years old and can do more pull-ups than most people. She was told she wouldn’t lift weights after being diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis back in 1982. But, as you can tell, she overcame the odds and is now a coach who competes and she’s an absolute savage when it comes to training.
Woody won the Nationals in 1990 and recently competed in April, coming in first for the bodybuilding category over 35’s of which she was the oldest. She came in second in the Physique category. And at 4 foot 9 inches, and 85.5 pounds, she’s petite but impressive nonetheless.
But Woody comes from an athletic family with a father who was a coach and a brother who was a golden gloves boxer…
“I grew up with a father who was a coach at local community center. He coached both boys and girls; young men boxing, football, baseball and basketball and girls’ volleyball and basketball,” Woody told the Daily Mail.
She competed in her first competition in 1986 to lose weight after having a child. But she kept competing and won several shows in the 80s and 90s. And she was a pretty good powerlifter too…
“I realized pound by pound that I was strong. In one of the power-lifting contests, I weighed in at 107 pounds and I could squat lift at 111kg. I was always the oldest on stage and I still am“.
And Woody described how people often criticized her look and said she looked like a man but she didn’t let it discourage her. But now people are more open to her appearance and lifestyle.
“People are much kinder than they were years ago. I believe out of respect for my age, they feel I’m an inspiration—they tell me, ‘you’re the reason I go to the gym or do cardio or take Zumba classes.’ It makes me feel good“
Woody is super impressive when it comes to pull-ups…
