Joyce Hansen, a 73-year-old former physical education teacher from Lenexa, is now a world champion weightlifter.
After competing in several national competitions for the past three years, Hansen won her first-ever international contest on Sept. 5 in Rovaniemi, Finland.
Hansen said it was a wonderful experience to represent the United States at the 2024 World Masters Weightlifting competition — and winning was “fantastic.”
“It brought tears to my eyes because it was so phenomenal,” Hansen said.
Hansen competed alongside 900 other athletes
- Hansen, who taught at several places in her career including a stint at Briarwood Elementary in Prairie Village, qualified and competed in the under-55 kilo weight class for the 70-74 years old age group.
- As part of the competition, Hansen completed two Olympic lifts: a snatch and a clean and jerk.
- Hansen said for the snatch lift, she started at 16 kilos (roughly 32 pounds) and missed the first two tries. She was successful on the third attempt.
- For the clean and jerk — her favorite lift, she says — Hansen started with 20 kilos (about 42 pounds). She was successful on the first attempt, and increased her weight to 22 kilos on the second attempt.
- Hansen successfully completed the second attempt — placing her in first — but was unsuccessful on her third clean and jerk attempt lifting 24 kilos.
She’s been training for three years
- Hansen has enjoyed weightlifting for years with her husband, Paul, but never really had a trainer.
- That was until three years ago when she joined Paul and started training at KC Weightlifting, a gym on Johnson Drive in Mission, with owner and coach Anna Martin.
- Hansen said she enjoys weightlifting because it’s “a little bit different,” and it helps her stay strong and balanced.
- She’s grateful for Martin helping her stay positive during difficult lifts.
- “Sometimes it can be discouraging when you’re trying to lift something a little heavier and progress,” Hansen said. “But boy, (Martin) sticks right in there with you and gives you positive vibes.”
‘A lot of misconceptions about women lifting’
- Martin, who previously coached at Olympic Training Centers in Colorado Springs and Marquette, Michigan, said she’s used to trainees competing internationally.
- Still, Martin said, it’s special for Hansen because at 73-years-old, “most women that age don’t even think they can lift a bar, let alone win a world championship.”
- Martin said women can be strong at any age, noting that Hansen started weight training when she was 70.
- Martin said there is at least one woman who has started weight training because she was inspired by Hansen’s gold medal win.
- “There’s still a lot of misconceptions about women lifting, but it’s definitely changing,” Martin said.
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