For those who ever subscribed to Sports Illustrated, who didn’t thumb immediately to “Faces in the Crowd” when each issue reached the mailbox?
It was national recognition for the unsung athletes across America, and even better if they were from your neck of the woods. Overall, it was downright cool. In essence, if your name and mug shot landed in SI’s pages, you had “arrived,” as old-timers used to say.
Certainly, Kate Walker arrived. The powerlifting champion from Columbia appeared in “Faces in the Crowd” in the Sept. 5, 2011 issue – a significant nod to a remarkable, albeit improbable, career in the sport.
The Missouri Sports Hall of Fame is proud to honor Walker with induction in its Class of 2015. She rallied after severe osteo-arthritis ended her dance career in her mid-50s, becoming a national and world powerlifting champion, if not an inspiration.
The ceremony, sponsored by Great Southern Bank and presented by Miller Professional Imaging/Mpix, is Sunday, Nov. 15 with a noon reception and 1 p.m. dinner at the Holiday Inn Executive Center in Columbia. The Hall also will induct 14 other individuals and name Jon Sundvold a Missouri Sports Legend. For tickets, call 417-889-3100.
In cutting a swath through the sport, Walker was chosen to the USA Team for the World Drug Free Powerlifting Federation in 2010 and 2011. She went on to win gold in her age (61) and weight class at the 2010 world competition in Ireland. A year later, she earned three golds and set world records in the power squat, bench press and deadlift.
And that’s just to name a few awards.
“My success in powerlifting has been an important aid in my efforts to help others, particularly women, develop healthy lifestyles,” Walker said. “I do this both as a yoga instructor and as a Wellness Ambassador at the T.E. Atkins Wellness Program at the University of Missouri.
“Some of my greatest pleasure comes from seeing others inspired by my successes to live up to their true potential,” Walker added. “When I am on stage for a competition, I feel that I am both doing it for myself as well as for the men and women who have changed their lives with my help. To my way of thinking, staying healthy and strong is the best inspiration – never too old.”
The New York native has lived in Missouri since attending Stephens College in the 1970s as she studied dance and psychology. She went on to earn a master’s degree from Mizzou and worked in at the Missouri Department of Natural Resources for several years.
Along the way, she taught dance. However, her severe osteo-arthritis became too much to bear. So, faced with reality in her mid-50s, Walker figured she would have to set aside the career she loved.
Fortunately, she found a new passion.
During her healing process, she experienced a major life shift after meeting Tom La Fontaine of Optimus: The Center for Health. He is a top-notch exercise physiologist and a world-class athlete.
“He helped me overcome the disability and introduced me to competitive powerlifting,” Walker said. “At 58 years of age, I lifted in the Show-Me State Games in 2007 and won gold in my age and weight class, which encouraged me to join the American Drug Free Powerlifting Federation and compete in their meets.”
In addition to Walker’s international victories, she won gold medals twice in 2012 in the federation’s single event world competition in France and the powerlifting world competition in Massachusetts, and in 2013 in the world competition in Scotland. Today she holds six world records.
She has won 14 gold medals in American competitions, including seven at the Show-Me State Games. Her other victories were under the umbrellas of the American Drug Free Powerlifting Federation, the American Powerlifting Association and USA Powerlifting – including the USPA Wounded Warrior-Lifting for Heroes meet in Waynesville in 2014.
Her success hasn’t gone unnoticed. Walker was named the 2011 Gladys Stankowski Sportswoman of the Year by Columbia’s Women’s Intersport Network (WIN); the 2012 Show-Me State Games Female Athlete of the Year; and the third best Female Athlete in the Nation at the 2012 National Congress of Games. In 2012, she was featured in Arthritis Today.
Walker also has served as a state referee for the American Drug Free Powerlifting Federation.
“I love powerlifting. I love the whole idea of just achieving, to be able to work out very, very hard. And it’s a lot of fun,” Walker said. “I’m still growing in the sport itself. I haven’t met my limits yet. I’m going to see how far my body will take me.”
There is apparently more in store.
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Want to go?
What: Enshrinement in Columbia Class of 2015 presented by Great Southern Bank and presented by Miller Professional Imaging/Mpix
When: Sunday, Nov. 15 with noon reception, 1 p.m. dinner
Where: Holiday Inn Executive Center in Columbia
Honorees: As a Missouri Sports Legend, former Mizzou basketball star Jon Sundvold; former University of Missouri athletic director Joe Castiglione; former Mizzou/NFL defensive lineman Jerome Sally; Mizzou basketball great Al Eberhard; equestrian standout and instructor Gayle Lampe; former St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Charlie James; longtime Show-Me State Games director Ken Ash; Mizzou team physician and sports medicine leader Dr. Pat Smith; Mizzou and Macon High School cheerleading coach Suzy Thompson; longtime Missouri State High School Activities Association director Jack Miles; Columbia high school tennis coach Ben Loeb; powerlifting champion Kate Walker; former Mizzou golf coach Richard Poe; Olympic race walker Larry Young; former Rock Bridge High School football coach and athletic director John Henage; and Mizzou super fan Alvin “Squeaky” Marquart.
Tickets: $150 each, or $1,500 for tables of 10. Sponsorships, including congratulatory ads in the program guide, also are available.
Call: Missouri Sports Hall of Fame at 417-889-3100.