Someone to Know: Jean Dougherty is 74 and she can deadlift 245 pounds
The deadlift is a weight-training exercise where the person lifts a loaded barbell or bar off the floor to hip level and then lowers to the floor. The deadlift is one of three exercises in the strength sport of powerlifting, the others being the squat and bench press.
Dougherty, who lives on seven acres west of
Because of her success at
Dougherty continues training for the
"She started training in 2006. Then I kind of realized, and she also realized (where) her potential -- as far as her genetics and her hard work ethic -- would take her. She was strong from the get-go, and I think probably 2008 (she) decided we should do a bench press competition, and she set a state record in her age and weight class," said
"A lot of her accolades go to the powerlifting and the deadlift, ... but she is also, I'm going to say, a world-class bench presser for her age and weight class."
Dougherty, who rarely has muscle aches, said, "There just aren't very many women my age that do this. I don't have any competition."
Said Joe: "There's not many women half her age who could do what she does."
Dougherty trains Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings before she heads to work at
"I train her like I would anybody else. I know she's got good genetics, and she's very strong, but I take a back seat. I've been with her 14 years. I know she's strong, and I work within her limits, and I know what she's capable of," Joe said.
Said Dougherty: "Except now that I'm a champion, he's really pushing me hard. I said, 'You don't have to kill me now. I'm good.' "
When you were growing up, were you athletic?
"Not a lot. We just lived in the country, and we always had chores to do -- a lot of chores, inside and outside.
"I played basketball, and that's probably all I did in high school, but it's just always been outside work. Mom had a big garden that we all had to work in. Just work. My dad always farmed, and he was very, very strong, and I attribute a lot of my strength to him. I think I got that gene from him."
How did you get to the point where you're a weightlifter?
"My late boss,
"In 2008, was my first bench press competition, and that was at the fitness center. ...
"(Years later at another competition) female firefighters were down here from
What's the goal now?
"I got that 245 as my personal record. My goal is 250, deadlift.
"I'll get it. I don't care if I am getting older. Joe's keeping me stronger."
Do you cross-train?
"I lift in my son's (
"He came out to get me the other day, and said, 'Mom, I need your help.' Well, I had this long, huge cabinet that he needed to move from one room to the other, and so I get ahold of it ... the way I had to pick it up I had to grab it ... and lift it, and there was no place for my feet to go, so I'm taking baby steps. It was like, 'Are you kidding me?'
"So, I get down there, and I set it down, and I'm huffing and puffing, and he said, 'What's the matter with you?' He said, 'You need to tell Joe to have you lift some furniture once in awhile.' "
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