A Legacy of Strength: History of Women in Powerlifting
By: Julianna King & Savannah Kaminski
When I started powerlifting in 2014, I rarely saw another woman in the gym deadlifting over 300 pounds. Today, over 10 years later, I coach dozens of women doing just that and more. Among the fitness trends that fluctuate over the years and even in a year (looking at you, pilates and Hyrox competitions), something I’m always so excited to see is a women enter into the gym and seek out strength for herself.
This post is a tribute to the women who came before us—the trailblazers who broke barriers, bent bars, and redefined what it means to be strong. It’s not a complete history, but it’s a roadmap of pivotal moments in women’s strength sports, from early gymnastics manuals to the global growth of women’s powerlifting today.
A Brief History of Women in Strength Sports
While exercise has been promoted since ancient times by authors like Herodicus and Hippocrates, we’re going to start our discussion in the 1800s where women had few rights, viewed as fragile, and all illnesses or ailments dealt with were viewed to be connected to the presence of ovaries and a uterus. The classic Victorian novels depicted this view of women in society at the time (think Jane Eyre). The discussion of women exercising was preposterous.
From Fragile to Aesthetic Exercise
There was one athletic movement that brought about more feminine attention: gymnastics. Books targeting women were titled “Exercises for Ladies Calculated to Preserve and Improve Beauty,” “Madame Brennar’s Gymnastics for Ladies,” and often included the words “beauty,” “gymnastics,” and “art.” Later, one notable publication was that of Dr. Dio Lewis - The New Gymnastics for Men, Women, and Children (1862). While this was a progressive text, it continued to warn against rigorous and strenuous training for women and advocate for their ‘safety’ by using only 4-5lb weights or no weight.
The Rise of Female Strength Acknowledgment
Katie Sandwina
Oddly enough, the circus was one of the first spaces to celebrate women’s strength publicly. Katie Sandwina was promoted as the 'Strongest Woman that Ever Lived' during her time in the Bailey & Barnum circle. Sandwina was portrayed by the media as majestic and feminine, despite her muscular strength. These media narratives were used to bridge the gap between strength and socially accepted femininity.
As Sandwina was paraded as an anomaly in the circus, individuals were beginning to look into the use of strength training as a means of athletic improvement. One individual who helped to trailblaze this idea was Bernarr MacFadden. MacFadden was the publisher of a well-known magazine, Physical Culture. MacFadden’s magazine - alongside Strength Magazine - were among the first magazines to begin to accept discussion and images of women’s slender athletic bodies. MacFadden encouraged women to use resistance equipment.
There are several more names who deserve mention:
Annette Kellerman, a professional swimmer: Kellerman used physical activity to help her battle illnesses as a child. She encouraged women to work their bodies and see themselves as physically able. Kellerman believed in developing the musculature around women’s waists and that developing them would eliminate the need for corsets.
Ivy Russell was known for holding her 185lbs husband over her head in handstand fashion. Ivy was a well-rounded athlete who gave posing and weightlifting exhibitions and ultimately lead to an increase in women’s interest in competitions. She was deemed “muscular, but not manly” and thus was a new archetype for female lifters.
Abbye ‘Pudgy’ Stockton became the poster girl of women’s weight training. Pudgy found herself on over 40 magazine covers, wrote a column in the magazine called “Barbelles,” and featured other women athletes within these columns. Her goal was consistently to show women the benefits of muscles. She ultimately ended up running a gym in California and opened one of the first women-only gyms in Beverly Hills.
To Weight Training and Powerlifting
We’re now up to the 1950s with the views and prominence of women in strength training. The acceptance only continued to grow with the expansion of resistance training programs in schools. In 1959, Eastern Washington University opened up its weight training classes to women, and by 1961, these classes were full. The public view of strength training shifted.
In the 1960s, powerlifting, previously labeled the ‘Odd Lifts,’ grew and began to be sanctioned. Bob Hoffman put on the first, “unofficial” powerlifting called The Powerlifting Tournament of America. It should be noted that this meet did only include men. Still, change was coming. The International Powerlifting Federation (IPF) formed in 1972, just one year after Title IX passed in the U.S. The first Women's Powerlifting World Championship was held in 1980 in Massachusetts—years before women’s weightlifting appeared in the Olympics (2000). If you’re like these women and prepping for a meet, this meet day guide walks you through what to expect and how to feel confident stepping on the platform.
Modern Powerlifting for Women
Once we get to the 2000s, the documentation is rather cloudy, but one thing is clear: powerlifting has grown immensely since 2000. With that, the number of female powerlifters has also increased. In 2004, USAPL implemented the Women’s Hall of Fame. The first women to be inducted were Jan Todd (who actually wrote several of the articles I found historical information from), Ruth Welding, Mabel Rader, and Judy Gedney. Each year after, one to two individuals were inducted - some notable names being: 2011, Priscilla Ribic and Sioux-z Hartwig-Gary; 2013, Jennifer Thompson; 2021, Jennifer Rey Gaudreau.
Social media also changed everything. From YouTube icons like MegSquats to everyday lifters sharing PRs on Instagram, platforms have made the sport more visible and accessible. Personally, I first discovered powerlifting through Instagram in 2014. Whether they’re training for their first meet or trying to balance lifting with a demanding schedule, more and more women are finding ways to make strength training work for them, even while traveling. Today, it's how many lifters, especially women, find community, coaching, and inspiration. From 2012 to 2016, women made up 27% of USAPL competitors. By 2019, that number hit 36%. Representation continues to rise.
Strength is Empowering.
As powerlifting grows, more women share their experiences with the sport, not only on the competition side, but their roles as coaches, volunteers, meet directors, etc. There is a stark divide in the number of females and males in the sport via athletes, coaches, volunteers, etc.
While so much growth has already occurred, it’s important to note that this growth of an empowering and supporting community is never over. We must create a more inclusive and welcoming environment for all women who are interested in powerlifting - including but not limited to women of color, women with disabilities, and women of all religions.
If you’re looking for someone to support your journey, this guide on how to choose a powerlifting coach breaks down what to look for, especially if you value coaching that centers your needs and goals.
We must advocate for inclusivity and work towards breaking down barriers that may prevent women from feeling welcome in the sport.
If you’re a lifter, share this history. Celebrate the women who paved the way—and keep pushing for progress. Powerlifting is for all of us.
Powerlifting should be inclusive, and it starts with you.
References:
Wilson, K. (2021). A place for women: University gymnasiums, 1867–1969. Iron Game History, 16(1), 54–66. https://starkcenter.org/igh/igh-v16/igh-v16-n1/igh1601p54.pdf
Osmer, L., & Todd, J. (2020). “It is now within your reach”: Annette Kellerman and feminine agency in physical culture. Iron Game History, 14(4), 3–16. https://starkcenter.org/igh/igh-v14/igh-v14-n4/igh1404p03.pdf
Todd, J. (2007). Center ring: Katie Sandwina and the construction of celebrity. Iron Game History, 10(1), 1–12. https://starkcenter.org/igh/igh-v10/igh-v10-n1/igh1001c.pdf
McCracken, E. (2007). Pudgy Stockton: The belle of the barbell. Iron Game History, 10(1), 1–2. https://starkcenter.org/igh/igh-v10/igh-v10-n1/igh1001a.pdf
Fair, J. D. (2005). Kati Sandwina: “Hercules can be a lady”. Iron Game History, 9(2), 27–36. https://starkcenter.org/igh/igh-v9/igh-v9-n2/igh0902d.pdf
Todd, J. (2002). “As men do walk a mile, women should talk an hour…”: Pre-Enlightenment thought on women and purposive training. Iron Game History, 7(2/3), 49–58. https://starkcenter.org/igh/igh-v7/igh-v7-n2-n3/igh0703j.pdf
Todd, J. (1992). The origins of weight training for female athletes in North America. Iron Game History, 2(2), 3–14. https://starkcenter.org/igh/igh-v2/igh-v2-n2/igh0202c.pdf
Todd, J. (1992). The legacy of Pudgy Stockton. Iron Game History, 2(1), 3–11. https://starkcenter.org/igh/igh-v2/igh-v2-n1/igh0201c.pdf
Todd, J. (1991). Bernarr Macfadden: Reformer of feminine form. Iron Game History, 1(4/5), 3–9. https://starkcenter.org/igh/igh-v1/igh-v1-n4-n5/igh0104c.pdf
Hulls, T. (2017). The Great Sandwina, Circus Strongwoman and Restaurateur. Atlas Obscura, 26.
