Living with multiple sclerosis since her early 30s, Jan Nelson has undergone multiple back surgeries and neck fusions. By the time she started physical therapy, her body felt stiff, fragile, and resistant to movement. Any attempt at exercise often resulted in days of pain afterward. Still, her physical therapist Mike Alzheimer reassured her with a simple but powerful belief: movement is medicine. He promised that if she stayed consistent, she would get stronger.
At 64 years young, married, and the proud mother of three adult children and one grandchild. Four years ago, at the age of 60, Jan began a journey she never imagined would lead her to the sport of powerlifting.
Jan admits she had no idea what she was getting herself into when she scheduled that first appointment. For the first four months, Jan focused solely on physical therapy. Eventually, she was cleared to step into the gym and begin lifting very light weights. She didn’t know the techniques or the terminology—she simply trusted Mike and followed his guidance. That trust paid off.
Jan discovered a deep love for deadlifting. The feeling of picking something heavy up from the floor, combined with accessory movements, made her feel stronger and better than she had in years.
As her confidence and strength grew, Jan began working with a trainer while continuing physical therapy. She learned how to bench press and squat, steadily expanding her skill set. In November 2023, she competed in her very first powerlifting meet. The experience was so much fun that she was instantly hooked.
Since then, Jan has competed in three full powerlifting meets along with two or three deadlift-only meets. Her main inspiration in the sport is Jennifer Thompson, a powerlifting legend who traveled to Sheridan in the summer of 2025 to host a seminar at Jan’s gym. Spending time with Jennifer only reinforced Jan’s love for the sport and the community surrounding it.
When it comes time to hit a personal record, Jan’s song of choice is “Thunderstruck” by AC/DC—a fitting anthem for her intensity and determination. Looking ahead to 2026, her goal is to compete on May 9 at the Forge Heavy Metal Classic in Sheridan. She aims to lift heavier than she ever has before, continue setting state records, move into a higher classification, and one day compete at a national meet.
What keeps Jan in powerlifting is the people she has built deep friendships, including a close bond with her best powerlifting friend Deb from California, whom Jan describes as a “powerlifting beast” and her biggest supporter.
Jan’s multiple sclerosis remains stable, and despite her challenges, she has built strength and improved her quality of life beyond what she once thought possible. She is certain of one thing: she will never quit powerlifting.
“I will never quit powerlifting. What I would tell someone who is wanting to compete in their first meet is to just do it. Nobody cares what you lift or how heavy you lift. They just want to see you. Enjoy yourself safely and crush your own PR‘s. it’s not about hitting a certain number in order to compete. It’s just do it you’ll never regret it.” -Janann Nelson
