Michelle Ludena Strongwoman
and APT Pro Gear Sponsored
My StrongWoman career started in December 2008. I was introduced to the Linden Yard Crew by a good friend and fellow SM, Tom Mutaffis. My first day out to train events, I dabbled a bit in the implements and was totally hooked after I scraped my forearm on my first attempt at stone loading. After training SM for about 2 months, I competed in my first competition in Pennsylvania at the Clash of the Titans "Valentine's Day Massacre". I placed 3rd. How ironic that on Valentine's day I would be out throwing up logs, flipping tires and battling with a stone. I totally had cupid on my side this day as this is the day I totally fell in love with the sport.
My current goals are to continue to train SM events and work on some of my weaker areas to fine tune them for my journey to Nationals in 2010. I will also be competing on October 3, 2009 at New York's Strongest Competition.
Besides being a mom, training SM is one of the best and most rewarding things I have ever done and has made me a well rounded person. I have met a lot of great people in the sport who have this grace of sportsmanship. Everyone is very helpful and like one big happy STRONG family.
I would like to thank my daughter for being my biggest support system in all I do. She is definitely my back-bone, strongmen friends who inspired me in the sport Paul Rykiert and Tom Mutaffis for introducing me to LYC, LYC for giving me the opportunity to train with a great bunch of people at a wonderful location and all the new friends I have made through the SM community.
I am also glad that there have been so many competitions this year where us women have been given the opportunity to come out, get dirty and have some fun!
Looking forward to a strong and successful 2010,
Michelle
Competition History February 2009 - September 2009
Clash of the Titans, Philly, PA (3rd, LW)
Cradle of Iron, PA (3rd, LW)
Power & Fitness Rahway, NJ (1st, LW)
Hudson Valley, NY (3rd, LW)
