{"id":139539,"date":"2026-09-02T11:47:31","date_gmt":"2026-09-02T15:47:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.strongfitnessmag.com\/?p=139539"},"modified":"2026-09-02T11:58:59","modified_gmt":"2026-09-02T15:58:59","slug":"in-her-sixties-linda-mitchell-is-better-than-ever","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.strongfitnessmag.com\/motivation\/cover-athlete\/in-her-sixties-linda-mitchell-is-better-than-ever\/","title":{"rendered":"In Her Sixties, Linda Mitchell Is Better Than Ever"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"

When I sneezed loudly (and quite unprofessionally, if I\u2019m honest) at the beginning of our interview, Linda Mitchell<\/a> warned me to be careful. <\/p>\n

\u201cIt always starts that way,\u201d she cautioned in a tone one might expect their mother to take under the same circumstances. But she was speaking from experience, being herself in the midst of fighting a brutal chest infection and making her way through a round of antibiotics. It was an illness that had emerged some weeks earlier, prior to her STRONG Fitness Magazine<\/em> cover shoot, and though it had come dangerously close to derailing her trip from Ohio to Toronto, Canada, she had soldiered through. <\/p>\n

For those who know Linda, they wouldn\u2019t expect anything less from this mother, entrepreneur, and decorated pro Fitness competitor\u2014and for those who don\u2019t know Linda, they\u2019re about to come to terms with the fact that she isn\u2019t one to let anything stop her, especially a low-grade fever.<\/p>\n

Family Matters<\/strong><\/h3>\n

A self-proclaimed \u201cglamma,\u201d Linda\u2019s face changes when speaking of her children and their accomplishments, lighting up with pride as she lists their personal and professional achievements. Her daughter Tiffany is a photographer who \u201cshoots all of the stars\u2014people like Jane Fonda, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Sydney Sweeney,\u201d she gushes, though when pressed admits it might be \u201ca little\u201d weird for her daughter to be behind the camera while she poses in, say, a bikini, but to never say never. Similarly, her youngest son is a cinematographer who has had his work screened at Cannes, and his recent movie, Riddle of Fire<\/em>, is streaming on Amazon. And her oldest, Mike, who writes and produces music under the name Digital Tapestry, has found the same passion for athletics as his mother, which she admits may have had something to do with her kids\u2019 upbringing. <\/p>\n

\u201cI think that it was my husband and I [who influenced them],\u201d she shares. \u201cJake, my younger son, when he was a child he sometimes would complain, because I was always making recipes that had a healthy twist. But now he tells me, \u2018I miss your healthy experiments, mom.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

This same penchant for physical activity and healthy living extends to her two grandchildren, Parker and Elliot. While Linda\u2019s daughter finds herself exercising as she chases the kids around the house, when \u201cglamma\u201d visits, they put her through their own type of home workout, a YouTube series called Danny Go!<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a crazy cardio workout,\u201d Linda insists. \u201cMy grandson was so into it, and then my granddaughter was like, \u2018It has a lot of running and jumping, but this one [the video she had queued up] isn\u2019t bad.\u2019 <\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s really cute though, and very adventurous. Like, they\u2019re climbing mountains and dodging things [on the screen]. We had to jump up on the footstool to get away from the alligators\u2014it was so fun.\u201d<\/p>\n

Her only regret? \u201cI do wish I could see them more,\u201d the 64-year-old shares, echoing a common desire of many grandparents. The distance between her and her grandchildren, who live in New York, is nearly a nine-hour drive or an hour-and-a-half direct flight, so you can bet when she does get to see them she goes all out\u2014living room obstacle courses and all.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Many Hats, Many Crowns<\/strong><\/h3>\n

But of course, Linda is more than her maternal instincts. Her list of accomplishments reads like a wishlist for any 21st century woman: owner of the Sisterhood of Sweat gym, based in West Chester, Ohio, as well as an online program called SOS Sweat City; founder and host of the SOS: Sisterhood of Sweat <\/em>podcast, where she has interviewed the likes of Newt Gingrich and Howie Mandel; author of two inspiring books; a four-time champion competitor who has achieved her Fitness and Bikini Pro cards; and the current reigning Mrs. Ohio USA, a title that has taken her around the country in support of worthy charities that speak to her personal interests.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was looking for something that had a platform and could really help you reach people, because I want to make an impact,\u201d she explains as to what drew her to the organization. \u201cAnd you can\u2019t do that hiding in the dark\u2014you gotta shine like a light.\u201d The fact that she could use her title to reach women across the country while giving back really spoke to her. \u201cThey have a charity, Love Without Boundaries, for children who need surgeries or foster care. And then the charity I support through my work with the organization is Women Helping Women, here in Ohio. They help women overcoming abuse with whatever they need, like housing, legal care, or groceries.\u201d<\/p>\n

This foundation truly hits close to home for Linda. Decades ago, she found herself in a similar situation, trapped in a relationship that sapped her of her individuality and made it nearly impossible for her to function in a healthy manner. It was through the help of others, including organizations like Women Helping Women, that Linda was finally able to break free.<\/p>\n

\u201cI remember working at a Y with some abused women and children. I remember listening to them talk in the circle, and I thought, \u2018Someday, when I\u2026.\u2019\u201d Retelling the story, Linda\u2019s voice breaks. But after a few tears were dabbed on both sides of our Zoom call, she returned to painting the picture of how all of her business endeavors were sparked by those early difficult years. <\/p>\n

\u201cI could have sailed off into the sunset and retired, you know, but I wanted to build something where women have a place to bond, a soft place to fall, a place of sport and community,\u201d she says of her women-only gym. \u201cAnd because I am the survivor of domestic violence, I really wanted to build a place that I wish I would have had way back when, where they can rebuild themselves and start to feel whole again. <\/p>\n

\u201cI was looking for something that had a platform and could really help you reach people, because I want to make an impact.\u201d<\/strong><\/h3>\n

\u201cI really have moved past that [relationship]\u2014you know, it was a long time ago,\u201d she continues. \u201cBut I still see abuse in this world, not just physical, but emotional and mental manipulation. I want women to realize what they\u2019re worthy and deserving of, so they won\u2019t settle for less. And one way for that to happen is for them to have self-esteem and confidence, and I feel like you can really build that in the gym with a bunch of great women surrounding you.\u201d<\/p>\n

That dream has come true at Sisterhood of Sweat (which stands for \u201cstrong women empowering, achieving together\u201d) where clients of many different backgrounds come together to celebrate their own power through fitness. And because Linda has been there herself, she knows how it just takes that first step\u2014and someone to believe in you, like she has found with her husband Tracy, who she calls \u201ca brilliant engineer\u201d that helped build her studio\u2014to put you on a new, better path. She\u2019s living proof of it.<\/p>\n

Continuing the Tradition<\/strong><\/h3>\n

After we signed off from our chat, Linda was already back in competition mode, preparing for her July Mrs. USA show with other title holders from around the country\u2014where she placed second runner-up, by the way\u2014and a couple fitness competitions in the fall where she plans on tackling the Figure, Fitness, and<\/em> Fit Model categories. While that show schedule may look daunting to younger competitors, for Linda it\u2019s a no-brainer. But it wasn\u2019t always that way.<\/p>\n

\u201c[The Fitness category] is my first love\u2014in fact, I taught myself how to do all the tricks at 40,\u201d she says. \u201cA lot of people started in gymnastics when they were young, but I never did, since my dad was very conservative. So I just said to myself, \u2018I\u2019m gonna keep going and keep improving.\u2019 And I did. I think I was between 56 and 58 when I started doing a one-hand planche!\u201d<\/p>\n

Let that be a lesson to us all: the passage of time is a blessing, and certainly not something to be feared. Thanks to it, Linda has been able to spread her message of self-love and perseverance around the world, inspiring women of all ages who want to feel better, move better, and be the best version of themselves.<\/p>\n

As Linda says, \u201cIt\u2019s the same line I say on my podcast: be who you are instead of who others want you to be.\u201d It\u2019s this believe-in-yourself attitude that has allowed her to achieve goal after goal, year after year\u2014and who knows what records and accolades her upcoming years will hold. <\/p>\n

Linda’s Creamy Key Lime Pie Recipe<\/strong><\/h3>\n

\u201cI love topping this pie with Skinny Coconut Whipped Cream from the freezer section at Whole Foods,\u201d says Linda of this dairy- and gluten-free treat. \u201cAdd a sprinkle of fresh lime zest or a few thin lime slices for a beautiful finishing touch.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Linda Mitchell has built an empire teaching women that the power of fitness is transformative in more ways than one. And now, with her second STRONG cover under her belt, she\u2019s more determined than ever to take the world by storm.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11317,"featured_media":139499,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"footnotes":"","tve_updated_post":"

\"\"<\/span><\/div>
\t

When I sneezed loudly (and quite unprofessionally, if I\u2019m honest) at the beginning of our interview, Linda Mitchell<\/a> warned me to be careful. <\/p>

\u201cIt always starts that way,\u201d she cautioned in a tone one might expect their mother to take under the same circumstances. But she was speaking from experience, being herself in the midst of fighting a brutal chest infection and making her way through a round of antibiotics. It was an illness that had emerged some weeks earlier, prior to her STRONG Fitness Magazine<\/em> cover shoot, and though it had come dangerously close to derailing her trip from Ohio to Toronto, Canada, she had soldiered through. <\/p>

For those who know Linda, they wouldn\u2019t expect anything less from this mother, entrepreneur, and decorated pro Fitness competitor\u2014and for those who don\u2019t know Linda, they\u2019re about to come to terms with the fact that she isn\u2019t one to let anything stop her, especially a low-grade fever.<\/p>

Family Matters<\/strong><\/h3>

A self-proclaimed \u201cglamma,\u201d Linda\u2019s face changes when speaking of her children and their accomplishments, lighting up with pride as she lists their personal and professional achievements. Her daughter Tiffany is a photographer who \u201cshoots all of the stars\u2014people like Jane Fonda, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Sydney Sweeney,\u201d she gushes, though when pressed admits it might be \u201ca little\u201d weird for her daughter to be behind the camera while she poses in, say, a bikini, but to never say never. Similarly, her youngest son is a cinematographer who has had his work screened at Cannes, and his recent movie, Riddle of Fire<\/em>, is streaming on Amazon. And her oldest, Mike, who writes and produces music under the name Digital Tapestry, has found the same passion for athletics as his mother, which she admits may have had something to do with her kids\u2019 upbringing. <\/p>

\u201cI think that it was my husband and I [who influenced them],\u201d she shares. \u201cJake, my younger son, when he was a child he sometimes would complain, because I was always making recipes that had a healthy twist. But now he tells me, \u2018I miss your healthy experiments, mom.\u2019\u201d<\/p>

This same penchant for physical activity and healthy living extends to her two grandchildren, Parker and Elliot. While Linda\u2019s daughter finds herself exercising as she chases the kids around the house, when \u201cglamma\u201d visits, they put her through their own type of home workout, a YouTube series called Danny Go!<\/em><\/p>

\u201cIt\u2019s a crazy cardio workout,\u201d Linda insists. \u201cMy grandson was so into it, and then my granddaughter was like, \u2018It has a lot of running and jumping, but this one [the video she had queued up] isn\u2019t bad.\u2019 <\/p>

\u201cIt\u2019s really cute though, and very adventurous. Like, they\u2019re climbing mountains and dodging things [on the screen]. We had to jump up on the footstool to get away from the alligators\u2014it was so fun.\u201d<\/p>

Her only regret? \u201cI do wish I could see them more,\u201d the 64-year-old shares, echoing a common desire of many grandparents. The distance between her and her grandchildren, who live in New York, is nearly a nine-hour drive or an hour-and-a-half direct flight, so you can bet when she does get to see them she goes all out\u2014living room obstacle courses and all.<\/p><\/div>

\"\"<\/span><\/div>
\t

Many Hats, Many Crowns<\/strong><\/h3>

But of course, Linda is more than her maternal instincts. Her list of accomplishments reads like a wishlist for any 21st century woman: owner of the Sisterhood of Sweat gym, based in West Chester, Ohio, as well as an online program called SOS Sweat City; founder and host of the SOS: Sisterhood of Sweat <\/em>podcast, where she has interviewed the likes of Newt Gingrich and Howie Mandel; author of two inspiring books; a four-time champion competitor who has achieved her Fitness and Bikini Pro cards; and the current reigning Mrs. Ohio USA, a title that has taken her around the country in support of worthy charities that speak to her personal interests.<\/p>

\u201cI was looking for something that had a platform and could really help you reach people, because I want to make an impact,\u201d she explains as to what drew her to the organization. \u201cAnd you can\u2019t do that hiding in the dark\u2014you gotta shine like a light.\u201d The fact that she could use her title to reach women across the country while giving back really spoke to her. \u201cThey have a charity, Love Without Boundaries, for children who need surgeries or foster care. And then the charity I support through my work with the organization is Women Helping Women, here in Ohio. They help women overcoming abuse with whatever they need, like housing, legal care, or groceries.\u201d<\/p>

This foundation truly hits close to home for Linda. Decades ago, she found herself in a similar situation, trapped in a relationship that sapped her of her individuality and made it nearly impossible for her to function in a healthy manner. It was through the help of others, including organizations like Women Helping Women, that Linda was finally able to break free.<\/p>

\u201cI remember working at a Y with some abused women and children. I remember listening to them talk in the circle, and I thought, \u2018Someday, when I\u2026.\u2019\u201d Retelling the story, Linda\u2019s voice breaks. But after a few tears were dabbed on both sides of our Zoom call, she returned to painting the picture of how all of her business endeavors were sparked by those early difficult years. <\/p>

\u201cI could have sailed off into the sunset and retired, you know, but I wanted to build something where women have a place to bond, a soft place to fall, a place of sport and community,\u201d she says of her women-only gym. \u201cAnd because I am the survivor of domestic violence, I really wanted to build a place that I wish I would have had way back when, where they can rebuild themselves and start to feel whole again. <\/p><\/div>

\n\t
<\/div>\n\t
\t

\u201cI was looking for something that had a platform and could really help you reach people, because I want to make an impact.\u201d<\/strong><\/h3><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>
\t

\u201cI really have moved past that [relationship]\u2014you know, it was a long time ago,\u201d she continues. \u201cBut I still see abuse in this world, not just physical, but emotional and mental manipulation. I want women to realize what they\u2019re worthy and deserving of, so they won\u2019t settle for less. And one way for that to happen is for them to have self-esteem and confidence, and I feel like you can really build that in the gym with a bunch of great women surrounding you.\u201d<\/p>

That dream has come true at Sisterhood of Sweat (which stands for \u201cstrong women empowering, achieving together\u201d) where clients of many different backgrounds come together to celebrate their own power through fitness. And because Linda has been there herself, she knows how it just takes that first step\u2014and someone to believe in you, like she has found with her husband Tracy, who she calls \u201ca brilliant engineer\u201d that helped build her studio\u2014to put you on a new, better path. She\u2019s living proof of it.<\/p>

Continuing the Tradition<\/strong><\/h3>

After we signed off from our chat, Linda was already back in competition mode, preparing for her July Mrs. USA show with other title holders from around the country\u2014where she placed second runner-up, by the way\u2014and a couple fitness competitions in the fall where she plans on tackling the Figure, Fitness, and<\/em> Fit Model categories. While that show schedule may look daunting to younger competitors, for Linda it\u2019s a no-brainer. But it wasn\u2019t always that way.<\/p>

\u201c[The Fitness category] is my first love\u2014in fact, I taught myself how to do all the tricks at 40,\u201d she says. \u201cA lot of people started in gymnastics when they were young, but I never did, since my dad was very conservative. So I just said to myself, \u2018I\u2019m gonna keep going and keep improving.\u2019 And I did. I think I was between 56 and 58 when I started doing a one-hand planche!\u201d<\/p>

Let that be a lesson to us all: the passage of time is a blessing, and certainly not something to be feared. Thanks to it, Linda has been able to spread her message of self-love and perseverance around the world, inspiring women of all ages who want to feel better, move better, and be the best version of themselves.<\/p>

As Linda says, \u201cIt\u2019s the same line I say on my podcast: be who you are instead of who others want you to be.\u201d It\u2019s this believe-in-yourself attitude that has allowed her to achieve goal after goal, year after year\u2014and who knows what records and accolades her upcoming years will hold. <\/p><\/div>

\n\t
<\/div>\n\t
\t

Linda's Creamy Key Lime Pie Recipe<\/strong><\/h3>

\u201cI love topping this pie with Skinny Coconut Whipped Cream from the freezer section at Whole Foods,\u201d says Linda of this dairy- and gluten-free treat. \u201cAdd a sprinkle of fresh lime zest or a few thin lime slices for a beautiful finishing touch.\u201d<\/p><\/div>

\n\t
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