Jan Todd
Encyclopedia
Dr. Jan Todd, the Roy J. McLean Fellow in Sport History, is a professor in the Department of Kinesiology and Health Education at The University of Texas at Austin
. Dr. Todd is a member of the Sport Management faculty, and teaches classes in sport history, sport philosophy, and sport and ethics. An active lecturer, Dr. Todd was named the Seward Staley Honor Lecturer for the North American Society for Sport History in 2008.
Dr. Todd also serves as co-editor of Iron Game History: The Journal of Physical Culture, a scholarly journal for people who want to write about, read about, or formally research the history of physical culture. In addition, she has written numerous articles on topics such as sport and exercise history, anabolic steroids, and strength training as well as two books: "Physical Culture and the Body Beautiful: Purposive Exercise in the Lives of American Women" (Mercer University Press, 1998), and "Lift Your Way to Youthful Fitness" (Little-Brown
, 1985).
With her husband, Dr. Terry Todd, she founded the H.J. Lutcher Stark Center for Physical Culture and Sports
. The Stark Center, which opened in a new facility in the fall of 2009, contains museum exhibits as well as a research library and the largest archive in the world devoted to the study of physical fitness, resistance training, and alternative medicine.
. During her powerlifting career, many publications—including Sports Illustrated
magazine – considered her to be the strongest woman in the world. As a powerlifter, Dr. Todd set more than 60 national and world records, and was included in the Guinness Book of Records
for over a decade. Dr. Todd was the first woman inducted into the International Powerlifting Hall of Fame. She was inducted in the first class of the Women’s Powerlifting Hall of Fame, and the 2009 class of the National (US) Fitness Hall of Fame. She also received the 2008 Oscar Heidenstam Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award for her contributions in the field of physical fitness.
University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin...
. Dr. Todd is a member of the Sport Management faculty, and teaches classes in sport history, sport philosophy, and sport and ethics. An active lecturer, Dr. Todd was named the Seward Staley Honor Lecturer for the North American Society for Sport History in 2008.
Dr. Todd also serves as co-editor of Iron Game History: The Journal of Physical Culture, a scholarly journal for people who want to write about, read about, or formally research the history of physical culture. In addition, she has written numerous articles on topics such as sport and exercise history, anabolic steroids, and strength training as well as two books: "Physical Culture and the Body Beautiful: Purposive Exercise in the Lives of American Women" (Mercer University Press, 1998), and "Lift Your Way to Youthful Fitness" (Little-Brown
Little, Brown and Company
Little, Brown and Company is a publishing house established by Charles Coffin Little and his partner, James Brown. Since 2006 it has been a constituent unit of Hachette Book Group USA.-19th century:...
, 1985).
With her husband, Dr. Terry Todd, she founded the H.J. Lutcher Stark Center for Physical Culture and Sports
H.J. Lutcher Stark Center for Physical Culture and Sports
H.J. Lutcher Stark Center for Physical Culture and SportsLocated on the campus of the University of Texas at Austin, the H.J. Lutcher Stark Center for Physical Culture and Sports is a library, archive and museum dedicated to the study and preservation of the world of physical culture. Through the...
. The Stark Center, which opened in a new facility in the fall of 2009, contains museum exhibits as well as a research library and the largest archive in the world devoted to the study of physical fitness, resistance training, and alternative medicine.
Powerlifting career
Dr. Todd’s interest in the study of sport and physical culture was galvanized by her participation and success in the sport of powerliftingPowerlifting
Powerlifting is a strength sport. It resembles the sport of Olympic weightlifting, as both disciplines involve lifting weights in three attempts. Powerlifting evolved from a sport known as 'odd lifts' which followed the same three attempt format but used a wide variety of events akin to Strongman...
. During her powerlifting career, many publications—including Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
magazine – considered her to be the strongest woman in the world. As a powerlifter, Dr. Todd set more than 60 national and world records, and was included in the Guinness Book of Records
Guinness World Records
Guinness World Records, known until 2000 as The Guinness Book of Records , is a reference book published annually, containing a collection of world records, both human achievements and the extremes of the natural world...
for over a decade. Dr. Todd was the first woman inducted into the International Powerlifting Hall of Fame. She was inducted in the first class of the Women’s Powerlifting Hall of Fame, and the 2009 class of the National (US) Fitness Hall of Fame. She also received the 2008 Oscar Heidenstam Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award for her contributions in the field of physical fitness.
External links
- H.J. Lutcher Stark Center for Physical Culture and Sports http://www.starkcenter.org/