05/07/2026
In an era when female muscularity was deemed “unladylike,” Abbye “Pudgy” Stockton redefined strength by pressing her 185-pound husband overhead.
She graced over 40 magazine covers, authored the Barbelles column, and organized the first AAU-sanctioned women’s weightlifting meet.
Stockton also pioneered women’s athletic wear and opened one of the first women-only gyms, proving strength could be both feminine and fearless.
Her legacy endures in every deadlift, inspiring countless women to pick up a barbell and embrace their power.