At the supermarket recently, Peeps Nicol had an extraordinary encounter. A woman fell right in front of her, while pushing a walking aid. Despite her size, Nicol didn’t hesitate to assist her. She got the woman back on her feet, realizing that she had developed the strength for such a feat through her newfound passion for powerlifting.
Nicol, who is 71 years old, entered her first powerlifting competition in March of this year. It was a significant milestone for her, considering that she only joined the gym just a year prior. She expresses a newfound confidence and self-acceptance, stating that she has never felt better about herself. Reflecting on her past, she believes she was conditioned by societal norms to always stand slightly behind her husband. However, she now can’t imagine accomplishing what she is today in any of the previous years.
Living with multiple sclerosis since her diagnosis in 2005, Nicol and her husband Brian, a triathlete and former soldier, had a life plan. They agreed that when her MS became disabling, he would care for her and push her in a wheelchair. Brian was an excellent cook, and that was supposed to be their future. However, fate had something else in store for them. In a tragic turn of events, Brian was diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). With the prognosis suggesting three to five years from diagnosis, Brian proposed a move to Spain. Although the change of environment clearly benefited him, IPF caught up with him and he passed away in April 2020. As the last promise her husband asked of her, Nicol was determined to be alright, despite his concerns about her strength.
She returned to the UK, where her two daughters from her previous marriage reside. Currently, she lives in a static caravan near her younger daughter, just outside Weston-super-Mare. Having no friends in the area, Nicol stumbled upon an advertisement on Facebook for the local health center, which featured a pool and a cafe.
“I received a gym induction as part of my membership,” Nicol recalls. Initially, she had no intentions of utilizing the gym facilities. However, the gym trainer, TJ, reminded her of her younger brother, sparking her curiosity. She felt incredibly unfit and wished to shed some of the excess weight that tends to accumulate with age. So, she decided to give it a try.
After a few sessions using resistance machines, Nicol found herself struck up in conversation with TJ. Powerlifting came up, and TJ offered to train her if she was interested. The idea of becoming stronger and more self-sufficient greatly appealed to her. Nicol was eager to explore her limits and challenge societal expectations that discourage women over 70 from building muscle or engaging in strenuous activities.
Nicol’s ankles were initially so stiff that squatting, even without weights, was impossible for her. However, with consistent training, she can now deadlift an impressive 55kg. In March, she participated in a novice competition at a weightlifters’ gym. Her late husband, Brian, had represented Team GB in the triathlon for the 60-64 age group. Inspired by his achievements, Nicol aspires to compete in an International Powerlifting Federation competition in the over-70 category someday.
When asked if she has always been adventurous, Nicol reflects on her experience as a mother. She views having two children as a monumental adventure, despite feeling inadequate in traditional “womanly skills” like cooking and homemaking. She got married at a young age and became a mother at 22, feeling like a child herself. For her second marriage to Brian, she mostly followed his lead. Powerlifting is the first pursuit Nicol has intentionally chosen for herself, and it has made a remarkable impact on her self-esteem and sense of autonomy. She now feels empowered to take care of herself and pushes through physical pain during workouts, recognizing that it is where her strength truly flourishes. Nicol proudly declares herself a bona fide powerlifter.
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