04/22/2026
Never too late!
At 72 years old, most people slow down. Sister Pat Farrell did the opposite.
After adopting a vegan lifestyle over a decade ago, she recently decided to try something completely new. Strength training. Just four months later, she stepped onto the platform at her very first powerlifting competition.
And she didn’t just show up. She won her weight class.
Competing at the California Summer Open, she lifted an impressive total of over 100 kg, including a deadlift heavier than her own body weight. Not bad for someone who had never touched a barbell a few months earlier.
But what makes her story truly powerful isn’t just the numbers. It’s the mindset behind them.
She describes the moment she first deadlifted as transformative, a feeling of strength she had never experienced before. That feeling kept her coming back.
Now, she’s encouraging others, especially older adults, to embrace strength training and never assume it’s too late to start.
Her journey blends plant-based living, resilience, and a willingness to begin again, no matter your age.
Because sometimes, the strongest version of you is still waiting to be discovered.
