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It’s never too late to learn a new skill or strive to be your best, and at 95 years old, Catherine Kuehn is a remarkable example of this. As a world-record-holding powerlifter, she proves that age is no barrier to achieving greatness. Her story is so inspiring, that she recently became the subject of a short New Yorker documentary called Strong Grandma, produced by Cecilia Brown and Winslow Crane-Murdoch of Sideyard Studios.
Strong Grandma follows Kuehn as she prepares for what could be her final competition. Throughout the film, she reflects on the love, loss, and experiences that have shaped her journey. It underscores the importance of community and support, showing that Kuehn’s story is just as much about the power of human connection as it is about physical strength and mental resilience.
Kuehn started powerlifting late in life, during her 80s, alongside her late husband, Dick. “Dick was my biggest supporter,” she fondly recalls in the documentary. “He was always on the front row, rooting me on.” She adds, “When you have your soul mate rooting for you, you gotta do it. You just gotta do it.”
Despite the difficulty of the sport, Kuehn has persevered and set records. She says, “It’s been very easy for me simply because no one my age was doing it.”
Naturally, countless people around the world have been inspired by Kuehn’s story and are grateful to Sideyard Studios for sharing it in such a compelling and beautiful way. “We are blown away by the response everyone has had to Strong Grandma,” the filmmakers, Brown and Crane-Murdoch, wrote on Instagram. “It’s rare you put a film out in the world, especially these days, that doesn’t divide opinion. We’re excited to see Catherine be an inspiration for many, just like she was for us.”
When Kuehn is asked for her advice on living a long, healthy life, she simply says, “Just keep moving. Don’t sit on the sofa watching TV or scrolling on your phone—move as much as you can.”
Strong Grandma recently won the Special Jury Award at the OLY House Film Festival, as well as the Audience Award at the Denver Film Women + Film Festival. Scroll down to watch the 15-minute film for yourself.
This Strong Grandma documentary follows 95-year-old powerlifter Catherine Kuehn as she prepares for what could be her final competition.
Sideyard Studios: Instagram
Source: Deadlifting in Your Nineties | “Strong Grandma” | The New Yorker Documentary
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