Boise Weightlifter Sets New World Record
Meridian YMCA instructor Michelle Galloway lifted 55 kilograms to secure a world title in late September 2026.
Updated on Oct. 20, 2026 in Body Building
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Boise athlete Michelle Galloway, 62, set a new world weightlifting record by lifting 55 kilograms at the IMWA World Masters Weightlifting Championships. The event took place in Athens, Greece, in late September 2026.
Why it matters
Galloway's achievement marks a significant personal milestone for the athlete who began weightlifting in her 50s following a seven-year period of being bedridden with an undiagnosed illness.
Galloway currently holds three world weightlifting records at 62 years of age. She reached this level of competition after training consistently at a Boise-based Olympic weightlifting gym.
The players
Michelle Galloway
She is a 62-year-old athlete and instructor at the Meridian YMCA who trains for international competition at an Olympic weightlifting facility in Boise.
The details
Galloway, a Meridian YMCA instructor, developed the necessary performance skills and mental toughness to compete on the world stage after starting her journey in a local kettlebell class. She remains competitive despite previously losing a snatch record to an Australian athlete during a 2026 Las Vegas competition.
Timeline
Late September 2026: Galloway set the world record in Athens.
2026: Galloway competed at a weightlifting event in Las Vegas.
Season Trajectory
This performance at the IMWA World Masters Weightlifting Championships elevates Galloway's standing within the masters-level athletic circuit. It reinforces her role as a top competitor in the global weightlifting landscape despite prior challenges in other recent competitions.
Galloway's record serves as a benchmark for age-division performance metrics at the international level. Her training transition from kettlebell classes to Olympic-style lifting demonstrates a potential pathway for masters athletes seeking competitive results.
The takeaway
Galloway illustrates that athletic excellence can be achieved at any age through consistent training and recovery. Her journey from being bedridden to holding world records offers a practical example of the impact of persistence on physical capability.
Further reading
For more news on local athletes and strength training, visit Body Building.
Source note: This article includes information reported by KOAT 7.
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