Shelly Stettner is not just any powerlifter. She is among the greatest Masters powerlifters in the world and has established herself as an inspiration to many. Stettner firmly believes that age is just a number and that anyone can become the best in what they want, regardless of their age. And she continues to prove her statements true. Recently, Stettner landed new personal records (PRs) for her squat and bench press at the age of 72.
A New Personal Record for Shelly Stettner: 265-pound Squat
Shelly Stettner first set a new personal record for her squat at 265 pounds (120.2 kilograms). She approached the barbell with her knee sleeves and lifting belt on, dropped under the bar, and easily lifted the weight. The squat is a difficult exercise that requires a lot of strength, particularly in the lower body, and Stettner’s impressive feat speaks to her incredible fitness level and training dedication.
Shelly Stettner Sets New Bench Press Record of 155 Pounds
After setting a new personal record for her squat, Shelly Stettner continued to impress by setting another PR for her bench press. She warmed up with a few sets before ramping up to a 155-pound (70.3-kilogram) bench, the heaviest she has ever lifted. Although the lift did not look as easy as her squat, it was still impressive to witness. Stettner’s dedication to her training and commitment to fitness is nothing short of inspiring.
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Shelly Stettner Aims to Defend National and World Titles
As Shelly Stettner prepares for the 2023 Powerlifting America (AMP) Masters Raw Nationals, she has her sights set on defending her title. The competition is scheduled to take place on June 2-3 in Phoenix. Stettner won the AMP Nationals last year and has established herself as one of the sport’s greatest athletes.
In addition to her national title, Stettner has also claimed other prestigious titles, including the 63-kilogram weight class of the 2022 IPF World Masters Classic & Equipped Powerlifting Championships. She also set four new masters IPF World Records at the Masters’ Championships.
With her impressive track record, Stettner hopes to defend both her National and World titles this year. And with her recent PRs, there’s a chance she could break even more world records.
Shelly Stettner: A Powerlifting Phenomenon
Shelly Stettner has competed in nine sanctioned powerlifting competitions, winning eight of them. What makes her accomplishments even more remarkable is that she didn’t start competing until the age of 68. Now, at the age of 72, Stettner is better than ever before and continuing to push herself to new heights.
Shelly Stettner’s Competition PRs
- 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
Shelly Stettner has had an illustrious powerlifting career, with numerous accomplishments under her belt. She has won eight out of the nine sanctioned powerlifting competitions she has participated in, making her one of the greatest masters powerlifters in the world. What makes her achievements even more impressive is that she started competing at the age of 68, and she is now 72 and still going strong.
Personal Bests
Despite some setbacks during her preparation for the 2023 AMP Nationals, including injuries and new rulesets, Shelly Stettner persevered and set new personal records (PRs) in the bench press and the squat. Her squat PR stands at an impressive 265 pounds (120.2 kilograms), which she achieved with ease thanks to her knee sleeves and lifting belt. Her bench press PR is an impressive 155 pounds (70.3 kilograms), the heaviest she has ever lifted. Although it did not look as easy as her squat PR, the bench press still looked quite comfortable for Shelly. With these new PRs, Shelly is proving that age is just a number and that she is still capable of achieving great things in the sport she loves.
Overview
At the age of 72, powerlifter Shelly Stettner continues to defy the limitations of age and shatter records. With a slew of accomplishments under her belt, including eight wins in nine sanctioned competitions, Stettner has established herself as one of the greatest Masters powerlifters in the world.
Recently, Stettner set new personal records (PRs) for her squat and bench press, lifting 265 pounds (120.2 kilograms) and 155 pounds (70.3 kilograms) respectively. Her impressive feat speaks to her incredible fitness level and unwavering training dedication.
Stettner’s focus is now on the 2023 Powerlifting America (AMP) Masters Raw Nationals, where she hopes to defend her title after winning the competition last year. With her impressive track record and recent PRs, there’s a chance she could break even more world records.
What makes Stettner’s accomplishments even more remarkable is that she didn’t start competing until the age of 68, and yet she continues to push herself to new heights. As she prepares for the upcoming competition, Stettner’s inspiring story serves as a testament to the idea that age is just a number and that with dedication and hard work, anyone can achieve greatness.
Featured Image @ Shelly_ann_28 (Instagram)
