The power and the glory

At an age where many may want to slow down and take it easy, 84-year-old Justine Whitaker did the opposite and picked up a barbell instead.

The Summerset at Wigram resident began lifting weights to supplement her athletics training but was so taken with the discipline that she now powerlifts competitively – and is making history while she’s at it.

“My background is in athletics,” she says. “I used to compete in athletics at school and college. I took it back up again 15 years ago and compete in the discus, shot put, hammer, javelin and weight throw.”

As she got older, Justine noticed changes in her body that meant she needed to adapt her approach. “I used to rely on speed and technique, but my speed was declining. Fast spins I could do a decade ago became more difficult, my knees were giving me trouble, and I noticed my legs were getting weaker. I needed to build strength.”

Investigating weightlifting first, Justine disliked the technical lifts and explosive power the discipline required. “It’s very dynamic; snatch and press. Powerlifting is the application of power, without the speed. It’s deliberate and controlled.”

Powerlifting focuses on building strength in the legs and core as well as pushing muscles such as the chest and triceps. Although Justine took it up to support her athletics, she enjoyed it so much she began competing.

“I’m always competing against myself,” she says. “My mum pushed me hard as a child and that mindset’s stuck. Once I discovered there was a competitive structure to it, that was it – although it took me a year to get to the point where I could compete.”

Powerlifting consists of three lifts: the bench press (lowering a weight to your chest and holding until told to press), the deadlift (lifting a weighted barbell straight off the ground to hip level), and the squat (a weighted barbell is placed at the bottom of the back of the neck before squatting with the thighs parallel to the ground).

“The lifts are relatively simple, but they have to be legal and safe,” Justine says. “When I started, it took me a year to get down low enough to the ground for a competitive squat, and several months to get my shoulders flexible enough to be able to hold the bar behind my neck. I only reached a competitive level a month before the Canterbury Championships!”

Justine trains once a week with coach James Schroder, whom she credits as instrumental in her success. “He’s incredible and very conservative with me. If I do a personal best, for example, he doesn’t push me for more – he always leaves some in the tank. I am his eldest pupil and he says it’s been a good challenge adapting training to my physical limitations.”

It hasn’t always been smooth sailing though. “I once fell over backwards doing a squat. My centre of gravity was off. Fortunately my coach caught me!”

She’s also is less enthusiastic about the required competition uniform – a tight compression garment to ensure proper lifting mechanics. “The suits are expensive, and ugly!” she laughs. “They make me look like a pregnant Oompa-Loompa!”

Athletics offers a more flattering outfit, and she continues to compete in both disciplines. Recently, Justine competed at the New Zealand Masters Athletics Track and Field Championships in New Plymouth, earning a clutch of medals a mere week before the powerlifting competition.

Originally from Yorkshire in the UK, Justine has always lived an active life. She previously taught PE, and enjoyed a variety of sports, including trampolining, tennis, climbing and gymnastics. “It’s good to learn new things,” she remarks.

At Summerset at Wigram, Justine organises the Summerset Games and plays both single and double bowls. “When I turned 80, I decided I was old enough,” she laughs.

Life for Justine is not all competitions and sport though. She has a strong creative streak and enjoys making costumes and outfits for herself and friends, particularly steampunk design. She also serves on the committee for the Fantasizers Festival in Christchurch.

Along with Summerset at Wigram Activities Coordinator Nicki Singer, Justine choreographed the Summerset Shuffle, a light-hearted dance routine residents performed at the village’s opening. “I was the first woman to move in. It was the best decision I ever made.”

Since taking up powerlifting, Justine has noticed improved balance and has achieved several season bests in her competitions. Until recently, the highest age category in powerlifting was 70-plus, until Justine came along. “Following my competition a couple of weeks ago, the Canterbury Powerlifting held an AGM and decided to create an 80-plus age range so that I can compete in that and set records!”

And set records she has. To compete in powerlifting requires ‘making a total’ across the three different lifts. In her recent competition, Justine made a total of 122.5kg, and is now the oldest competitor in New Zealand powerlifting history. And according to the International Powerlifting Federation, the second-oldest competing female – ever!

“When I started, I had no idea where it would lead,” Justine says. “I just wanted to build my strength.”

This is an article from the Winter 2026 edition of Summerset Scene magazine

Click here to read the full issue