The Strongest Woman In Alabama? Stephanie Plummer Enters Alabama Strongman/Woman Contest
HARVEST- Stephanie Plummer has a life story which is full of dreams, determination, uncertainty, success, tragedy and, in some ways, just downright unconventional.
Plummer, who will turn 40 years old in September, once dreamt of being the first female player in the National Football League, has always felt she had to prove herself in whatever she attempted, was adopted and at times was uncertain about her future, has had success of becoming a school teacher, suffered a near-death car accident and, for the second year in-a-row, will attempt, for what many consider a newfangled competition, the Alabama Strongest Man/Woman.
“This competition is what it’s all about for me to prove to myself and others who I am,” said Plummer. “I never thought I’d do this type of competition, but it has brought life into me.”
The 12th annual Alabama’s Strongest Man/Woman competition is scheduled for Aug. 17 in Gulf Shores where individuals and teams of competitors will face a variety of strength related challenges that certainly are not your typical weightlifting scenarios. The events include Odd Object Press Medley (keg, sandbag, block), Box Deadlift (box frame), Keg Carry in Sand, Head-To-Head Dinnie Ring Hold (hold the Dinnie rings as long as possible) and Kegs Over Bar (lift series of kegs of different weights over a 52-inch-high bar). Competition is calculated by points from each event.
The 5-foot-8, 185-pound employee of Huntsville City Schools as a teacher at the Physical Science Academy placed fifth in her division last year and has vowed to do even better this time around. “Yes, my pre-event training has included heavy weight training at 24/7 Health Club in Harvest and work with trainer Seth Galyen at Burn Boot Camp,” she said. “I use extremely heavy weights, especially in the regimen that includes dead lifts and other lifts.”
To assist in seeing how Plummer has prepped for her competition she has posted her top lifts in different events; dead lift- 305-lbs, bench- 190-lbs, squat- 200-lbs and trap dead lift- 285-lbs. “I’m more confident than last year as I know what to expect. Last year, I was overwhelmed in the competition as I did the best I could. I’ve been injury free as I do everything I can to stay free of injuries.”
Plummer was adopted and lived in Albany, Ga. for several years before making her way to the Tennessee Valley nine years ago to work for Huntsville City Schools. In high school, she played the tuba and trombone for her school’s marching band. She was a cheerleader in middle school where her two stepbrothers played football. She began heavy weightlifting in school and dreamt of being the first woman to play in the National Football League. In cheer, she was the strongest girl on the squad and was assigned the movements of lifting fellow cheerleaders in their stunts. “I was always wanting to show others I was just as strong as any man,” she added.
While attending Middle Tennessee State University and living in nearby Nashville, the then 20-year old was dealt tragedy. On Jan. 22, 2005, she was hit head on by a huge-sized SUV. She was ejected from her car and suffered traumatic brain injuries, and several broken bones and had to undergo hip replacement surgery. She was in a chemically induced coma for several days. She spent over 30 days in Vanderbilt Hospital. Upon her awakening and soon move to Memphis where her parents lived for recuperation, Plummer had to learn again to write, walk and talk.
I’ve had numerous traffic accidents, matter of fact, every car I’ve owned ended with car-totaled type accidents, all of which were not my fault,” she added. “I’ve certainly been unlucky.”
She soon returned to MTSU where she graduated with a degree and was ready for a career, which soon took a turn down I-65 south to Huntsville. She has strong spiritual faith and believes that makes a difference for her. She added, “The key to success is to pray. Ask God to guide me. It has been a struggle for me not to get frustrated with life. I’ve lost over 100 pounds, and that weight loss helped me through a lot of difficult things in my life. Shedding that weight told me I made it through. God brought me to it; he’ll get me through it. He’s helped give me the power to go forward.”
Plummer sat for a good rest after a recent and intense workout and reminisced about her 2005 accident and how things could have been different. She said, “My doctors suggested my mom send me to an assisted living facility. My family said no. I said no. My ability to push through that decision is what my life is all about.”
The resident of Harvest will make the trek to South Alabama for the competition with her mother, Anita Teamer, along her side. Plummer indicated event officials allow the competitors to inspect the items used in the contest but are not allowed to touch those apparatuses prior to their doing battle. Plummer said she’s tried to prepare herself for the usual heat on the beach as last year she saw several competitors pass out due to the high-heat weather conditions.
Plummer herself once weighed 283 pounds and through an extensive change in diet and athletic activity she lost down to 170 pounds in just over a two-year timeframe. She’s proud of her accomplishments in every area she has experienced, be it family, work, education, athletics, accidents or relationships. She’s what you would call a “tough cookie.”
Chris Slater, the Strongman event coordinator, is credited to being one of the people who helped Plummer prepare for the competition and look at life as a journey to success. “I never wanted to be in Strongman, but I just want to prove to others I could do this,” Plummer added.
