274 lifters, representing 5 continents and 29 countries, will take the platform at the Masters World Cup Monday at 7:45 PM (CST) in Tokyo. Before then, get to know some of the 68 women and 205 men who will compete for the title of Masters World Cup Champion in their respective age and weight categories.



Holly Arrow (United States)

60-year-old Holly Arrow competed at the Reebok CrossFit Games in 2012, 2013, and 2014. She took 8th at the Games in 2012, 10th in 2013, and 12th in 2014 (55-59 category). Aside from CrossFit and weightlifting, she has studied and practiced martial arts off and on for 30 years. Arrow is also a research psychologist and faculty member at the University of Oregon.


Photo cred: Her Campus at Oregon

Yoshinobu Miyake (Japan)

76-year-old Yoshinobu Miyake took home a silver medal and two gold medals in the 1960, 1964, and 1968 Olympics. He finished fourth in the 1972 Olympics. Miyake set 25 official world records from 1959-1969, including 10 consecutive records in the snatch and nine consecutive records in the total. He became known for his signature “frog” style lifting technique with his heels together and knees spread outward.


Photo Cred: IWF

Tevita Ngalu (New Zealand)

42-year-old Tevita Ngalu competed in the 2000 Olympic Games for his home country of Tonga. Equally as remarkable, in order for his New Zealand teammate to earn a spot to compete at the Olympics in 2012 he lifted at the Oceania Weightlifting Championships with a torn quad muscle. Despite tearing his left quad five days before the competition he successfully clean and jerked 157 kg. (346 lbs.) on nearly one-leg.


Photo cred: Newshub

Sandra Smith (United Kingdom)

54-year-old Sandra Smith sustained a serious lower back injury when she was 23 and was told she would risk ending up in a wheelchair if she didn’t stop participating in athletics. One year later she won her first national championship and qualified for the first official women’s weightlifting championships. Fun fact, she was also prison officer.


Photo cred: inbath

Ng Chow Seng (Malaysia)
80-year-old Ng Chow Seng held the record of National Weightlifting Champion in the 60 kg. weight class for 10 years from 1963-1973. He has also trained athletes from the Malaysian Association for the Blind and is a retired warrant officer of the Royal Malaysian Army.


Photo Cred: Star 2

Alea Fairchild (Belgium)
51-year-old Alea Fairchild has a doctorate degree in applied economics, a masters degree in international management, and a bachelors degree in business management and marketing. Whoa.


Photo Cred: Alea Lifting blog

The Masters World Cup will be streamed live on FloElite.com 4/11-4/15. Click here for the schedule and complete list of entrants.