This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.
I'm Sally Haas, a 72-year old competitive powerlifter in the St. Louis area, and I thought my story might be a good fit for The Patch Online.
I started powerlifting at age 70 (with only one year of gym experience) and I now compete, hold state records, and train with people decades younger than I am. Along the way, I've become passionate about challenging the idea that getting older automatically means becoming weaker or less capable.
I train with my powerlifting coach, Zach Cayer at The Edge, who also lives in Affton. He trains me exactly as he would a much younger powerlifter - age isn't the standard; strength is.
I share my training as "GymGrannySally" on social media, where some of my videos have reached thousands (and even millions) of people. I've also written a book, Grow Old or Grow Strong, about the same idea that drives what I'm doing now: we have far more control over how we age than we believe.
What started as a documenting of my own lifting has turned into something bigger - encouraging older adults to rethink what they believe they can still do.
My message is simple: Muscle knows no age.
If you think this might make an interesting local feature, I'd be delighted to talk with you. Zach and I would both be available, and I can provide photos and lifting videos as well.
Thank you!
Sally HaasInstagram and TikTok @GymGrannySally
