Building Bone Strength Through the Barbell
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by Preston Fekkes, Communications Assistant
Jocelyn Ludlow got into weightlifting just before her 60th birthday, and the results have been incredible. Coming from a long family history of women with osteoporosis, Jocelyn’s bone density scans from before and after becoming involved with Olympic weightlifting were night and day.
Jocelyn, 65, was swimming recreationally when she realized she was within 15 seconds of a national time. Her neighbor, who trained weightlifters out of his garage gym, found out and invited her over. She didn’t know what she was getting into.
“I went over and he handed me a singlet and said, ‘You're on the team.’ I'm what? No way. And he says, ‘No, seriously, you're on the team. Stronger is faster, so let's buy you those 15 seconds’,” Jocelyn said. “So, I started weightlifting and about six weeks into it, he said ‘The team is going to a meet and you're coming.’ And I'm going ‘What?’”
Jocelyn ended up taking gold in the W55 59 kg class and earning Best Master Lifter at the 2018 Sooner State Open, lifting 17/23/40. A year later, at the Howard Cohen American Masters, she set a Washington state record as she lifted 22/34/56. Eventually, she transitioned to a new coach and joined OKC Barbell, where she makes the 45-minute commute 2-3 times a week.
A few years before she started weightlifting, Jocelyn learned from a bone density scan that she had osteopenia, a condition where she had less bone mass which can lead to osteoporosis. Her sister, mother, and grandmother all dealt with osteoporosis, and it looked like she would be the next in line. After she joined OKC Barbell, she learned that she had flipped the script completely and her bone density was increasing.
“When I took up weightlifting they did another bone scan and they said, ‘Wow, this is great. Your bone density is amazing. It's basically perfect’,” Jocelyn recalled. “And I'm 65 years old and to hear that was pretty amazing.”
While improving her bone density, she has risen in the national ranks of weightlifting. She’s currently the top weightlifter in her class in Oklahoma, and has the third highest total across the country. She currently holds all three Oklahoma state records at 25/36/60. Jocelyn continues to compete after going through two shoulder surgeries unrelated to the sport, and her positive attitude doesn’t go unnoticed at her gym. Jason Frimpong, head coach of OKC Barbell, loves having her on the team.
“She's definitely the number one sweetest person on our team,” he said. “She really will do anything for anybody.”
Jocelyn plans on competing next in Columbus, Ohio, at VIRUS Weightlifting Series 1 at The Arnold.
