http://www.theolympian.com/home/news/20040203/sportssection/28037.shtml

Washington State Supreme Court Justice Faith Ireland spent years
searching for a solution to her back pain.

Her quest eventually led to weightlifting, and Ireland is now a
national powerlifting champion.

Ireland, 61, competed in the Women's National Powerlifting
Championships in Omaha, Neb., last Saturday and walked away with four
titles.

She broke the American and national records in the squat for age and
weight with a lift of 198 pounds.

Ireland also set an American record in the bench press of 133 pounds,
and added a personal record in the deadlift of 253 pounds.

Winning the three lifts also gave her the overall title and qualified
her for the USA Masters Team.

The bench press weight excited Ireland the most.

"It's been a goal of mine since I began powerlifting four years ago to
bench more than my weight," she said. "This lift beats it by three
pounds."

Ireland suffered a back injury in a 1983 car accident, just after she
became a judge, and was hurt again in another car accident in 1992.

After years of searching for remedies, Ireland got involved in
powerlifting after listening to a juror testify about overcoming back
pain.

"The juror was being questioned about overcoming a back injury in
weightlifting by working through the pain," she said.

"I tried it, and it took about two years before I could work out pain
free. But I got benefits after about six weeks. Then you're
hooked. Once you get to feeling better, it keeps you going."

Ireland competed in the 2002 national championships in Chicago and won
her age and weight class titles.

Then she duplicated that feat last Saturday in Omaha.

Ireland said there is no way she would ever give up powerlifting after
what she has experienced.

"I say I'm a recovering back injury person," she said. "If I quit, I
would start having sciatic pain again in six weeks to two months."