On Friday, October 1, The Seattle Times published a profile piece on Abbey Moon, a 76-year old Seattle resident with a passion for powerlifting and a 2021 Senior Planet Sponsored Athlete. Abbey just returned home from Sweden, where she won three silver medals for the bench press, squat, and deadlift at the International Powerlifting Federation’s World Sub-Junior, Junior, Master & Open Classic Powerlifting Championships.
Abbey’s story is remarkable: she is a survivor of domestic violence, and in the years following her divorce became hooked on powerlifting as a means to fight back against fear and gain strength. Abbey entered her first powerlifting competition in 2014 — securing an American record for bench press in the process — and has been training and competing ever since.
“No matter their reason for getting in shape, Moon wants more women her age to feel like they can do exercises — and powerlifting is not the only option, she insists. “It’s not too late,” she said. “I am not the strongest woman in the world. If I can do it, anyone can do it.”
Abbey’s goal is to inspire older adults to lift weights as a form of improving both their physical and mental health. She will be hosting a Zoom class on October 20, 2021 on SeniorPlanet.org to demonstrate the basics of powerlifting to older adults.
Photo by Alan Berner for The Seattle Times.
