Becca Swanson

{{short description|American powerlifter, strongwoman and professional wrestler}}

{{Infobox sportsperson

| name = Becca Swanson

| image = Wrestling Becca Swanson.JPG

| caption =

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1973|11|20|df=y}}

| birth_place = Papillion, Nebraska, U.S.{{cite web|url=http://www.cagematch.de/?id=2&nr=8502&gimmick=Becca+Swanson|title=Becca Swanson's profile|publisher=CageMatch.de|language=German|accessdate=2010-04-03}}

| death_date =

| known =

| occupation = Powerlifter, strongwoman, professional wrestler, bodybuilder

| title =

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| website = https://beccaswanson.com/

| footnotes =

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| height = {{convert|5|ft|10|in|cm|abbr=on}}

| weight = {{convert|89.4-117|kg|lb|abbr=on|0}}{{cite web|url=https://www.openpowerlifting.org/u/beccaswanson|title=Becca Swanson (F)|publisher=openpowerlifting.org|language=English|accessdate=2008-03-08}}

| medaltemplates = {{CompetitionRecordSport | Powerlifting}}

{{CompetitionRecordCountry | {{USA}} }}

}}

{{Infobox professional wrestler

|name=Becca Swanson

|image=

|names=Becca Swanson

|birth_date =

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|children =

|height = {{convert|5|ft|10|in|cm|abbr=on}}

|weight = {{convert|105|kg|lb|abbr=on|0}}

|billed =

|trainer = Harley Race
Harley Race's Wrestling Academy
World League Wrestling

|debut = 2009

|retired = 2010}}

Rebecca 'Becca' Swanson (born November 20, 1973) is an American powerlifter, strongwoman and former professional wrestler.{{Cite web|url=https://irishstrongman.com/6183/|title = Becca Swanson, USA – Strongwoman & Powerlifter | Irish Strong Man}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/criticalbench18.htm|title = An Interview with Becca Swanson: The World's Strongest Woman!|date = 27 June 2005}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/criticalbench18.htm|title=An Interview with Becca Swanson: The World's Strongest Woman!|date=27 June 2005}}{{cite news | last = Wennerstrom | first = Steve | publisher = Flex magazine | date = May 2004 | title = Flex 'N' Femme | url = http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0KFY/is_3_22/ai_n6108194 | accessdate = 2007-09-24}} She broke multiple powerlifting world records, including the heaviest squat, bench press, deadlift and the total.{{cite web|title=Women's 198 Pound/90 Kg Weight Class Top 20 |publisher=Powerlifting Watch |url=http://www.powerliftingwatch.com/records/198-women |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120907080330/http://www.powerliftingwatch.com/records/198-women |url-status=dead |archive-date=2012-09-07 |accessdate=2007-09-24 }}{{Cite web|url=https://barbend.com/becca-swansons-672-lb-deadlift-heaviest-ever-woman/|title = Is Becca Swanson's 672 lb Deadlift the Heaviest Ever by a Woman?|date = 15 April 2016}}{{cite web|url=https://www.powerliftingwatch.com/files/PLWR-W-01-03-18.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112042541/https://www.powerliftingwatch.com/files/PLWR-W-01-03-18.pdf |archive-date=November 12, 2020 |title=All Time Historical Women's Powerlifting World Records In Pounds/Kilograms |work=Powerlifting Watch |date=January 3, 2018 |access-date=February 24, 2023}} Due to her many accomplishments including unbeaten strength world records to-date, she is regarded as "the strongest woman to have ever lived".{{cite web|url=https://fitnessvolt.com/strongest-women/|title =The 10 Strongest Women To Ever Walk The Earth - Breaking Down The Strongest Women Of All Time|quote ="#1 Becca “Strongest Ever” Swanson is quite a physical specimen; her best lifts of 854lb squat, 600lb bench, 694lb deadlift, and 2050lb total makes her the only woman to ever lift over 2000lb".|website =www.fitnessvolt.com|author=Tom Miller, CSCS |date =19 March 2020|access-date=20 July 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://garagegymbuilder.com/the-strongest-woman/|title =Strongest woman in the world of all time |quote ="Becca is considered by many to be the world's strongest woman who ever lived".|website =www.garagegymbuilder.com|author=Ana Smith |date =29 April 2020|access-date=20 July 2023}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.muscleandfitness.com/muscle-fitness-hers/hers-athletes-celebrities/11-strongest-women-history-all-time-ever-walk-earth/|title = The 11 Strongest Women Ever|date = 20 November 2019}}{{Cite web |last= |first= |date= |title=Strongest Woman in the World Ever |url=https://thebarbell.com/strongest-woman-in-the-world/ |access-date=2023-11-15 |website=The Barbell |language=en-US}}

Early life

Swanson was born November 20, 1973, in Papillion, Nebraska.{{cite web|url=http://www.cagematch.de/?id=2&nr=8502&gimmick=Becca+Swanson|title=Becca Swanson's profile|publisher=CageMatch.de|language=German|accessdate=2010-04-03}} She graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 1998 with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering.

Bodybuilding, powerlifting, and strongwoman

Becca Swanson started out in 1996 with the desire to be a bodybuilder, but ended up powerlifting. According to her, the larger and more muscular women had fallen out of favor in bodybuilding after a few shows. She was told that she was just too big for bodybuilding, which motivated her to take up powerlifting. At the same time, she was very close to some powerlifting world records and thought it best to focus her efforts there.{{cite web|last=Swanson |first=Becca |title=About Me |date=2004-06-30 |url=http://www.beccaswanson.com/about_me.html |accessdate=2007-09-24 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070819033817/http://www.beccaswanson.com/about_me.html |archivedate=2007-08-19 |url-status=dead }} Her squat is {{convert|601.9|lb|kg}} (equipped), bench press is {{convert|523.6|lb|kg}} (equipped with bench shirt), and she is the only woman to deadlift {{convert|621|lb|kg}} (equipped). She is also the first woman ever known to be a member of the 2,000 pound club, as she is the first of two women ever to total over 2,000 pounds in a meet on the same day. She has also competed in strongwoman contests, beginning in 2002. Swanson is also known for doing 35 kg dumbbell curls for 10 repetitions.

Professional wrestling

=Harley Race's Wrestling Academy/World League Wrestling (2009-2010)=

Swanson was a professional wrestler in Harley Race's World League Wrestling based in Eldon, Missouri.

Swanson (as a heel) won the WLW Ladies Championship from Amy Hennig on October 3, 2009, at the WLW Tenth Anniversary Show.{{cite web|url=http://www.cagematch.de/?id=2&nr=8502&view=erfolge#erfolge|title=Title History on Becca Swanson's profile|publisher=CageMatch.de|language=German|accessdate=2010-04-03}} On March 12, 2010, Swanson would lose the title to Lucy Mendez in a triple threat match which also included Hennig.{{cite web|url=http://community.livejournal.com/stlwrestling/2010/03/12/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121209064845/http://community.livejournal.com/stlwrestling/2010/03/12/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=2012-12-09 |title=World League Wrestling results from Spokane, MO on 3/12 and Summersville, MO on 3/13 |publisher=St. Louis Wrestling Community |accessdate=2010-04-03 }} On March 13, Swanson was unsuccessful in capturing the WLW Women's Championship for a second time as Hennig would defeat both Swanson and Mendez in a triple threat match.

WPC/APF/WPO world records (equipped)

198+ Weight Class - {{convert|854.3|lb|abbr=on}} Squat
198+ Weight Class - {{convert|600.8|lb|abbr=on}} Bench
198+ Weight Class - {{convert|694.4|lb|abbr=on}} Deadlift
198+ Weight Class - {{convert|2050|lb|abbr=on}} Total (854.3/387.5, 600.8/272.5, 683.4/310.0) (best lifts in one meet)
{{convert|198|lb|abbr=on}} Weight Class - {{convert|804|lb|abbr=on}} Squat
{{convert|198|lb|abbr=on}} Weight Class - {{convert|480|lb|abbr=on}} Bench
{{convert|198|lb|abbr=on}} Weight Class - {{convert|600|lb|abbr=on}} Deadlift
{{convert|198|lb|abbr=on}} Weight Class - {{convert|1884|lb|abbr=on}} Total

Championships and accomplishments

=Bodybuilding=

Ms. Midwest (1 time){{cite web|url=http://www.amg-lite.com/becca_swanson/|title=Profile at AMG-Lite|publisher=AMG-Lite|accessdate=2010-02-19}}
Ms. Nebraska (1 time)
Ms. Rocky Mountain (1 time)

=Powerlifting=

World Powerlifting Congress
90 kg Class
710.5 kg Total (June 14, 2002)
90+ kg Class
377.5 kg Squat (June 4, 2005)
272.5 kg Bench press (June 4, 2005)
290.5 kg Deadlift (June 4, 2005)
873 kg Total (June 4, 2005)

=Professional wrestling=

World League Wrestling
WLW Ladies Championship (1 time)

Physical statistics

Height: {{convert|5|ft|10|in|cm|abbr=on}}
Weight: {{convert|110|kg|abbr=on}}
Quads: {{convert|27|in|cm|abbr=on}}
Calves: {{convert|17.5|in|cm|abbr=on}}
Shoulders: {{convert|54|in|cm|abbr=on}}{{citation needed|date=April 2025}}
Biceps: {{convert|19|in|cm|abbr=on}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.amg-lite.net/becca_swanson/|title = Becca Swanson - AMG Lite version 3.3}}

References

External links

[http://www.beccaswanson.com/ Official website]
[https://web.archive.org/web/20061205041039/http://beccaswanson.com/ Old Official Site]
[http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/criticalbench18.htm Bodybuilding.com Interview]
[http://www.amg-lite.com/becca_swanson/ Profile at AMG-Lite]
[http://www.cagematch.de/?id=2&nr=8502&gimmick=Becca+Swanson Becca Swanson's CageMatch.de Profile]
[https://www.powerliftingwatch.com/files/PLWR-W-01-03-18.pdf World Record list]

Category:Female powerlifters

Category:Strongwomen

Category:American strength athletes

Category:Living people

Category:American female bodybuilders

Category:American female professional wrestlers

Category:1973 births

Category:People from Papillion, Nebraska

Category:21st-century American women