Bev Francis At 1986 IFBB Ms Olympia In New York City Editorial Photo

Australian pro female bodybuilder Bev Frances flashes her impressively defined and powerfully muscled body at the 7th IFBB Ms Olympia contest at the Felt Forum of Madison Square Garden in New York City on November 29, 1986. This was her first Olympia, and she finished 10th. In the ensuing years she finished 3rd three times and 2nd twice, retiring in 1991. Frances was at one time dubbed the world`s strongest woman in history. She was a formidable track and field athlete excelling in the shot put, discus, and 100 meter hurdles. She was an extraordinary and undefeated powerlifter, and was the first woman to bench press over 300 pounds.Her best lifts were 335 pounds in the bench, 500 pounds in the squat, and 501 pounds in the deadlift, and during her career broke over 40 world records in powerlifting .Francis was inducted into the International Powerlifting Hall of Fame in 1987 and inducted into the International Federation of BodyBuilding Hall of Fame in 2000. Francis has been a teacher, coach, emcee, promoter, gym owner, and played a key acting role in the controversial film `Pumping Iron II: The Women, about women bodybuilders.