Jeanine Watt

Senior Powerlifter Wins Another Championship

Story by Michael Seguin
Photography by John Liviero and David Stewart

Jeanine Watt has an impressive resume. At 69, she’s a semi-retired lawyer and graduate student at the University of Windsor. 

She’s also a championship-level powerlifter.

Jeanine, like many of us, first dragged herself to the gym years ago when she realized she needed to get back into shape. But rather than halfheartedly forcing herself through a few exercises a week, Jeanine—somewhat characteristically—decided it would be more fun to start her fitness journey with a baptism by fire. 

“It was March 2018,” Jeanine recalls. “I was 61 at the time. I’d just joined a gym. And like an idiot, I decided to enroll in Canada’s Senior Olympics, which was only four months away! I started thinking about what I could do that wouldn’t require a lot of equipment or money, and all I could think of was track and field.”

Jeanine kept her promise to herself and competed in the games that summer. However, she quickly decided that she did not possess a body built for running.

Before she could get too disheartened, she then received a revelation from a young woman in the locker room.

“This woman just so happened to have a world record in powerlifting,” Jeanine states. “And I thought, ‘Hey! I could do that.’ So, I reached out to my trainer, David Stewart, who also teaches powerlifting and competes. Fortunately, he and I have the same attitude: that if it sounds fun, let’s try it!”

Jeanine did a little more than just try it. Within a year, she was already competing at the World Powerlifting Congress in Florida. Followed shortly thereafter by World Powerlifting Canada Nationals. She has currently earned three world records in powerlifting, specifically for the bench press. 

Last year, she even competed in a strongman grip strength competition at the Detroit Muscle Gym. 

“We only had a month to train for this thing!” Jeanine laughs. “It was a real strongman competition! These people were huge. And you know it’s a powerlifting gym when they offer you refreshments afterwards and its mostly beer!”

Jeanine classifies the distinction between powerlifting and other forms of weightlifting as follows:

“Powerlifting, in general, features three lifts,” Jeanine explains. “There’s the bench press, the squat and the deadlift. You can specialize in other things or omit certain exercises. For instance, I don’t squat. My knees and my shoulders just can’t take it. And with powerlifting, you’re training for pure strength. Conversely, Olympic weightlifting is where you might see someone throwing the weights up and over their heads. And bodybuilding is more about achieving a certain aesthetic.” 

Jeanine has a particular obsession with the bench press.

“It’s very technical!” Jeanine states. “You need to make sure that you have a little arch in your back. That your eyes are in the right place. That your hands are in the correct position. A lot of women don’t like doing it because you can’t always reach the higher weights. If she’s deadlifting 400 pounds and her bench is only 150, she might feel a bit cheated. But I just love it!”

All this time spent at the gym eventually led Jeanine back to the University of Windsor. 

“My family have never been traditional retirees,” Jeanine explains. “My grandfather was a butcher until his mid-seventies. My mother worked until she was 84. And she only stopped working because of a kidney disease. I saw her go downhill so fast after that, so I decided I needed to find things to do that would challenge me.”

Jeanine is currently completing her Master’s in Science (Kinesiology & Health Sciences) under the tutelage of Dr. Sean Horton and Dr. Paula van Wyk. Her research—appropriately enough—focuses on healthy aging, with an emphasis on older, female powerlifters

When asked what it was about powerlifting in particular that inspires her so much, Jeanine only smiles.

“I really like feeling strong!” Jeanine states. “And I really, really like setting records. I also enjoy being a bit of a role model. I went in to talk to some students during Kin Research Day, where we go around and share our research with some of the younger students. They were impressed with what I’ve accomplished at my age. Some of them even said things like, ‘I’m going to tell my mother about you!’”

Aside from the obvious benefits of powerlifting, Jeanine stresses that her time at the gym has paid dividends in other ways. For instance, strengthening her muscles has even prevented her from suffering other injuries.

“It’s great for my health,” Jeanine states. “I had a bone scan recently, and they’re in great shape! For instance, I fell down at the gas station last year. And if I hadn’t been so sturdy, I think I would have broken something. Being the age I am and still having such strong bones is tremendously important to me.” 

That said, Jeanine still isn’t done setting records or winning championships. On March 7th, Jeanine traveled to Columbus, Ohio, to compete at the Arnold Sports Festival for the Arnold Armlifting Championships. 

“It might be more accurately described as a grip strength competition,” Jeanine states. “In powerlifting, you might do a deadlift off the floor with a regular bar. Whereas in armlifting, you’ll do it with an axle bar which is two inches around, so you can’t really get your hand around it. Or you might do it with a Saxon bar, which is flat—so you’ll have to almost pinch it to get it up and off the ground.”

Predictably enough, Jeanine came home that night with another championship to add to her collection. She ended up winning a gold medal and set two world records for her age group.

When asked what she’d say to people her age or younger who might be interested in following a similar trajectory as her, Jeanine stresses the importance of realizing your goals at any age.

“You should just do it,” Jeanine advises. “Find a powerlifting gym and just start. Cardio is not enough. You have to do something that’s going to challenge your muscles and bones. And remember that the time will pass regardless. Someday you’ll be 80 either way. So, do you want to be an 80-year-old powerlifter or not?” 

If you happen to see her at the gym, make sure to stop in and say hello.

She might even spot you. 

Published in the Your Place Or Mine? 2026 Edition.