JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A Jacksonville woman is heading to the National Senior Games in Iowa to compete in powerlifting and is going to be a part of history.
At 57 years old, Janell Thomas is participating in the National Senior Games in Iowa as a powerlifter.
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It is the first time sport is being featured in the national competition
“[I want] to be a trailblazer for other females to come in and participate in powerlifting,” Thomas said. “That gives them more motivation to see someone of my age, 57. There are older women who are competing in the powerlifting also.”
Thomas says she will be scored on 3 different categories: the squat, bench press and deadlift.
“Powerlifting has definitely challenged me mentally, physically, and I am loving it,” she said. “I have learned that I have more confidence. I feel much stronger.”
Thomas says her current maximum weight for bench press is 132 pounds but is looking to reach 135.
She wants to get to at least 160 pounds for the squat and wants to lift at least 260 pounds in the deadlift.
Thomas started powerlifting 2023 when she was looking for a sport to test her skills.
Thomas says she has come to love it. She competed at the Florida Senior Games last December in Tampa to qualify for nationals.
Gabriel Mihuta is a retired master fitness coach for the U.S. Army, who now serves as Thomas’ coach.
“She is just a heck of an athlete,” Mihuta said. “There is no quit in that girl. There is none. I have met athletes and have been evolved as some kind of movement for 26 years. I’ve never met somebody who ironed their perfection on top of ironing. Their perfection. She is not going to count reps that don’t matter. If she messes up on a rep or if she falls short on a rep, she is going to do it over and over again to the point we have to keep her back from it.”
Professionally, Thomas owns a childcare center and is a massage therapist.
She says powerlifting can be the catalyst to a healthier lifestyle.
“Powerlifting actually gives you more strength,” Thomas said. “It helps with your health, your confidence, and I would encourage any woman or male to start lifting weights.”
Thomas is competing in Iowa on Sunday, August 3.
