2025 marks 50 years
since a trailblazer named Jan Todd decided to go to the gym with her little boyfriend.
I had started going with Terry to the gym just because, you know,
he's your cute boyfriend and you love him and
like you want to spend all your time together.
Not thinking about being an athlete at all.
Jan told WHYY in Philadelphia there were no other women at that gym.
It wasn't considered appropriate for ladies to lift weights.
Some gyms even banned it.
The idea of a woman having muscles was seen as somehow being somewhat transgressive.
There must be something wrong with you if you want to have muscles.
Anyway, feeling spicy that day,
Jan squatted down and deadlifted 225 pounds, which is a lot of pounds.
She went on to lift more weights, set a bunch of records,
model in magazines, and inspire other women to lift weights.
More recently, millions of women have started.
But why now?
Swole Girl Summer is ahead on Today Explained.
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