73-year-old powerlifter inspiring others

PLYMOUTH, Mich. (WJBK) - He took up powerlifting at age 70 -- and now at 73 he's a world record holder several times over.

"You'd be surprised at some of the 73-year-olds that are out there," Ray Fougnier says, laughing. "They're pretty good."

He is a retired school administrator who can squat 265, bench 200 and dead lift 405. He is, simply put, a champion in his age division of 70-74.

He got into by accident, a chance meeting at a community center gym down south where he was lifting.

"There was a gentleman who came in that was visiting and saw me lifting, got in the conversation and said, 'Hey, you should be lifting weights competitively,'" Ray remembers. "And I said, 'No, I'm not interested.'"

He thought about it a while and eventually joined a reputable steroid-free federation and went to a meet.

Ray splits his time between homes in Michigan and Tennessee, and this married father stays active, pursues a healty lifestyle and encourages others to do the same.

"Most 73-year-olds are playing golf, not deadlifting a huge amount of weight," FOX 2's Jason Carr says to Ray.

"I tried golf," Ray says, laughing. "But I'm better at weightlifting."