Mava Wery Brydges first walked into a gym in 1981, age 23, drawn upstairs to the "men's floor" by the sound of clanging weights. She stayed despite a few unhappy male lifters, and by 1983 had broken a deadlift record at her very first powerlifting meet.

Then she walked away to raise her sons and run a daycare. 34 years later, she found herself out of shape and suffering chronic back pain so bad she cried most evenings and couldn't walk more than a few steps. Her doctor said she should just walk for exercise. 

Her answer? "Hell, no."

She rebuilt herself through CrossFit, then the barbell, and returned to powerlifting in 2017. Now in her late 60s, Mava is a multiple national record holder and IPF medalist. She's still setting PRs despite knees that badly need replacing.

In this episode of That Badass Broadcast, we talk about breaking boundaries at a time when exercise for women meant step aerobics; the chronic pain that nearly sidelined her from life; how lifting fixed her back; the coaching team that’s become her second family; and what she says to anyone who's been told they're too old, or too broken, to lift.

Follow Mava on Instagram @granny_gainz2nd and on Facebook at Mava Brydges.

For show notes and past episodes of That Badass Broadcast, visit thatbadassbroad.com/podcast.

Writing on strength, training, and competing later in life at thatbadassbroad.com.

Clips and training on Instagram: instagram.com/mirslam.

Full episodes on YouTube: youtube.com/@thatbadassbroad.