1981 Women’s Powerlifting Championships
Woah…girls
I finally got a hold of a scanner the other day. This means that I can now post pictures from the hundreds of powerlifting magazines that Rip has held onto over the years.
We don’t really get an opportunity to talk about women on 70’s Big, so I’d like to highlight some women lifters from the 1981 Women’s National Powerlifting Championships. You’ll see that these women were not only strong, but pretty good lookin’ too. All the numbers from this meet are in kilograms (2.2 pounds = 1 kilogram). All of the following women won their respective weight classes. And “(WR)” denotes a world record.
Terry Dillard
Terry Dillard squatted 137.5 (WR), benched 57.5, and deadlifted 145 for a 340 (WR) total. That’s a 302.5 pound squat for a 105.6 pound woman. She also won Best Lifter.
Gayla Crain
Gayla Crain, a 56 kg lifter, squatted 152.5, benched 70, and deadlifted 180 for a 402.5 (WR) total. I dare say she is very good looking. Nice hair. She’s my favorite of this bunch.
Vicky Gagne
Vicky Gagne competed in the 82.5 kilo class. She squatted 202.5 (WR), benched 115, and deadlifted 220 (WR) for a 537.5 total! That is a 445.5 pound squat and a 484 pound deadlift. In the picture, she had been red lighted on a 507 lb. deadlifted, and said, “It’s ok, I’ll get it next time.” Kinda cute, eh?
Wanda Sander
Wanda Sander won the 82.5+ kg class with a 192.5 kg squat, 110 kg bench, and a 210 kg deadlift. Pretty strong.
I keep going back to the idea that these women are both real strong and attractive. There has always been a silly misconception that lifting weights will make women bulky, but they tend to forget they have one-tenth the testosterone of a male. Being “toned” means being strong, and being strong means you are probably gonna lasso a 70’s Big fella real soon. Once you go adult male (>200 lbs.), you’ll never go back.
24 Comments
November 18th, 2009 at 6:07 am
Gayla is a hunny. My first born, boy or girl, will be named Gayla in her honor.
November 18th, 2009 at 6:45 am
schwinnnng!
November 18th, 2009 at 7:40 am
@Grant Scalf
How are things up at CFKtown?? I”m gettin” 70s big down here at CHF in maryville!!
November 18th, 2009 at 8:22 am
hahaha I think I like this site…
November 18th, 2009 at 8:33 am
mmmm, ms. gayla, i approve.
November 18th, 2009 at 8:51 am
I thought it was 1/20th of male testosterone…
November 18th, 2009 at 8:54 am
“And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone…”
Enough said.
November 18th, 2009 at 9:39 am
@gannimal007
We at Ktown are lifting heavy weights and eating hearty steaks. I embarked on a 3 month strength cycle after Oktoberfest games in Nashville in hopes of gaining a 375 lb squat and a 425 lb deadlift. I”m up 15 lbs in body weight as of today. How are things at CHF?
November 18th, 2009 at 9:53 am
@Grant Scalf
I”m the lone wolf on strength down here. Things are doing well – classes are growing.
I started a slow linear progression at the beginning of September but being 35, the volume w/ CF was too much so, one month ago I went to lifting and eating.
I”ve gained ~20lbs and lifts are going up nicely – my goals are 4 plates DL, 3 plates BS, 2 plates BP, 1 plate SP. I”ll probably follow through XMAs .. maybe longer …
November 18th, 2009 at 10:00 am
Gayla is much prettier than Ricky Dale, it’’s true, but I think Wanda is the live wire…
November 18th, 2009 at 10:26 am
@Craigb156
yeah – she’’s the kind of girl that will shove a finger in your azz when you”re not lookin!
November 18th, 2009 at 11:10 am
Wow, did not see that one coming. I do not want to know how you know of those kinds of ladies gannimal.
Some damn strong women there.
November 18th, 2009 at 11:12 am
The Crains were were/are quite a family, apparently!
http://www.crainsmuscleworld.com/legacy_2004.html
Better pic of Gayla. Also, check out the socks on her brother! BOOM!
November 18th, 2009 at 11:18 am
Anyone in the Hayward/Oakland area know of a 70sBig-compatible gym? I will be in town for a week while my sister is having a baby, only a week before my first PL meet! Need to squat a few times if at all possible. Email me, jcloud at gmail if you have any hookups, lest I get stuck trying to sneak into Bally’’s or something. Much grass. Also, the chicks in this post are “hi” material for sure. Hi.
November 18th, 2009 at 2:00 pm
Gayla is the looker, but you wouldn”t forget an evening with Wanda.
November 18th, 2009 at 2:06 pm
@Gant
You mentioned on the CF boards about doing DB presses after Benching … something like 4 x 15? Can you give more info? What weight? Something like 25s? See saw style?
I”ve got long,weak arms and need all the help I can get keeping the SP and BP going up.
And yes … when they pull the sneak attack on ya – you never forget it.
November 18th, 2009 at 2:17 pm
Next time your traing just remember one thing, some cute girl way back in the 80′’s was warming up with your current one rep max.
November 18th, 2009 at 3:02 pm
@Jacob
I heard thru a friend the folks at Crossfit East Bay were good people. I looked at some of there recent programming and it seemed to have some strength bias; presses, squats, and hang snatch being three of their recent WODs. I have not been there myself but the recommendation came from someone I trust so it might be worth a phone call to see if they would let you drop by to train. Good luck in your PL meet!
November 18th, 2009 at 7:28 pm
Guys, many thanks. Looks like a found a home-away-from-home at Crossfit Oakland, per a couple of suggestions stemmed from here. 70sBig rules! I”ll represent with milk, facial hair, and tall socks, trust me.
November 18th, 2009 at 7:58 pm
These women are awesome and very inspiring.
How long do you think it took them to be able to lift like this?
Looking at the pictures I would have to say Vicky is my favorite. She seems to have that chill kind of attitude. Then Wanda. She has badass written all over her.
Thanks for posting these.
November 18th, 2009 at 8:00 pm
And i listen to Dropkick Murphy’’s when I train. but that’’s because i”m a hoooligaaaaan
November 18th, 2009 at 9:12 pm
Dudes, in the event one of these gals actually sees this website, I’d prefer if there weren’t a lot of quasi-offensive innuendo.
November 19th, 2009 at 4:06 am
@Justin
Sorry – couldn”t help myself.
November 21st, 2009 at 6:22 pm
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