97-year-old woman lifting nearly 100 pounds as she inspires others to hit the gym [Video]

WEST CHESTER, Ohio (WKRC) – An Ohio woman is inspiring others with her weightlifting journey.

Merce Hershey, 97, has been training at Starting Strength in Cincinnati for the last two years after her son suggested weightlifting could help her regain mobility.

She has gone from pulling an 11-pound bar off a rack to lifting as much as 93 pounds.

Hershey said she hopes to inspire others while her weightlifting story gets shared on social media.

One of her videos showing her deadlifting 53 pounds has even gone viral.

Hershey currently trains two days a week, and her efforts have paid off.

She’s gotten a lot stronger, and her mobility has improved.

“In those two years, she’s gotten measurably stronger. To see her make that type of an improvement just kind of underscores what we already knew, and it’s fascinating to be able to share that with people,” Lucas Schroeder, Hershey’s trainer, said.

Hershey said her joint and back pain is also better …