Goodable

Talk about an unexpected houseguest!

Staff at the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore got the surprise of the season when Kipepeo, a four-year-old giraffe who wasn’t known to be pregnant, casually gave birth to a healthy baby girl. The calf made her grand entrance in the early hours of March 27, and zookeepers are still doing double takes.

“Kipi,” as she’s affectionately called, had only arrived at the zoo in November. So when keepers noticed a tiny shift in her behavior on March 26, they thought she might be having an off day—not a whole baby.

But sure enough, by the next morning, Baltimore had a brand-new resident: a 128-pound, six-foot-tall bundle of spotted joy.

Erin Cantwell Grimm, the zoo’s Mammal Curator, explained that giraffe pregnancies last around 15 months. The baby—who hasn’t been named yet—is nursing like a champ and adjusting well to zoo life, while first-time mom Kipi is absolutely crushing it in the parenting department.

We’re just hoping she gave the zookeepers a high-five. Or, at the very least, a very tall head nod.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom welcomed its newest addition, a young Masai giraffe named Tucker, to the Kilimanjaro Safaris’ savannah.
Its mother, Mara, gave birth to the calf earlier this year and park visitors got the chance to see Tucker make his debut on Monday.
The new arrival is the first giraffe born at Walt Disney World Resort since 2021. In an announcement celebrating this new family member, the resort promised its ongoing commitment to wildlife and species protection.

Surprise! This Giraffe Just Unexpectedly Delivered an Adorable Baby

Fox News

Five years is a long time to wait for a cat to come home. For one Maryland family, that wait ended with a phone call they never expected.

Melissa and Brooke Garci were reunited with their cat, Artemis, five years after she went missing in 2021, according to WJZ-TV.

The Garcis had tried to find Artemis after she disappeared. WJZ reported that Melissa Garci canvassed the neighborhood with flyers, but she was not able to locate the indoor-outdoor cat.

The break came years later, when a woman brought a cat to the Humane Society of Harford County and said she had found it in her unfinished basement.

"Artemis was brought into our shelter by a caring community member," the Humane Society said in a Facebook post.

The nonprofit said staff scanned the cat for a microchip as part of standard protocol and found one.

"We traced her chip with the manufacturer and called the owner. Her owner picked up the phone and was speechless. Artemis had been missing for 5 years!!" the Humane Society wrote.

The shelter added, "Tears were shed over this sweet reunion. We are so happy to have brought this family back together again!"

Erin Long of the Humane Society told WJZ what happened when staff reached out to the family.

"This woman answered, 'Hello?' And we said we have your cat, and she was unbelieving. And she said, 'Are you sure? My cat has been missing for five years,’" Long said.

For Brooke Garci, seeing Artemis again did not feel real at first.

She told the station she felt like she could not even cry yet when she saw Artemis again, "because I was in disbelief, but when I saw her, I was like, 'Omg, she looks exactly the same.’"

Brooke Garci also told WJZ, "Her instincts are strong."

Long said Artemis quickly reconnected with the family after leaving her kennel.

When Artemis first came out, Long said, she walked over to the Garcis and got on both of their laps.

"It was a beautiful thing," she said.

Stranger Finds Missing Cat In Basement, Reunites Her With Family After 5 Years

USA Today

A frightened little dog ended up in a dangerous spot on Philadelphia train tracks, then got a careful rescue and a new name.

ACCT Philly said in a March 15 Facebook post that its Animal Protection Officers responded to a call from local authorities about a dog trapped on a train track support beam in east Philadelphia.

“Witnesses had seen the small dog running along the tracks before she became stuck on top of one of the support pillars,” ACCT Philly said.

Officer Kevin Collins arrived at the scene, and with Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority maintenance workers, who brought a cherry picker, the team was able to “carefully and safely” remove the small black female dog from the top of the beam without any injuries.

Video from the rescue showed the dog shivering as Collins called to her. When she did not respond, he used a leash to grab hold of her and pull her toward safety. She was then wrapped in a warm blanket and brought back to the ground.

The dog was later named Dottie and she is believed to be a 2-year-old Shih Tzu mix.

Dottie was placed on a 48-hour stray hold and transferred to Street Tails Animal Rescue on March 18, where she will be available for adoption, ACCT told USA TODAY.

“We’re incredibly relieved that this little dog is safe,” ACCT said, while thanking Collins, SEPTA Police and SEPTA maintenance for their efforts.

 📸credit: ACCT Philly

Rescuers Save Small Dog Stranded On Train Track Beam

Science Daily

Sometimes the oldest evidence of human creativity is as simple as a hand on a cave wall.

Researchers say a hand stencil found in a limestone cave in Indonesia is now the oldest known example of rock art on Earth, dated to at least 67,800 years ago. The find, on the island of Sulawesi, is at least 15,000 years older than a previous discovery in the same region.

An international team led by Griffith University, Indonesia's national research and innovation agency, BRIN, and Southern Cross University made the dating from paintings preserved in caves in southeastern Sulawesi, on the nearby island of Muna.

Scientists identified a partial hand stencil in Liang Metanduno cave, surrounded by much younger paintings. To work out its age, the team used uranium-series dating on tiny mineral layers that had formed over and, in some cases, beneath the artwork.

That allowed the researchers to establish when the paintings were created. They found the hand stencil was made at least 67,800 years ago, making it the oldest reliably dated cave art yet found.

The researchers said the results also show people kept making art in the cave for a very long time. Artistic activity there spanned at least 35,000 years, continuing until about 20,000 years ago.

"It is now evident from our new phase of research that Sulawesi was home to one of the world's richest and most longstanding artistic cultures, one with origins in the earliest history of human occupation of the island at least 67,800 years ago," said Professor Maxime Aubert, an archaeologist and geochemist from the Griffith Centre for Social and Cultural Research, who co-led the study.

The team said the hand stencil is an unusual version of a common motif. After it was first made, the image appears to have been deliberately changed. The outlines of the fingers were narrowed, giving the hand a claw-like appearance.

Professor Adam Brumm of Griffith University's Australian Research Centre for Human Evolution, a co-leader of the study, said researchers do not yet know what that change meant.

"This art could symbolize the idea that humans and animals were closely connected, something we already seem to see in the very early painted art of Sulawesi, with at least one instance of a scene portraying figures that we interpret as representations of part-human, part-animal beings," Professor Brumm said.

The team said the discovery also sharpens questions about when and how humans first reached Australia. According to the researchers, the people who made the Sulawesi paintings were likely part of the broader population closely related to the ancestors of Indigenous Australians.

Dr Adhi Agus Oktaviana, a rock art specialist at BRIN and a team leader whose doctoral research at Griffith University contributed to the study, said the finding carries major implications for the deep history of Australian Aboriginal culture.

"It is very likely that the people who made these paintings in Sulawesi were part of the broader population that would later spread through the region and ultimately reach Australia," Dr Oktaviana said.

Archaeologists have long debated when humans first arrived in Sahul, the ancient landmass that once joined present-day Australia, Tasmania and New Guinea. Some support a short chronology of about 50,000 years ago. Others argue for a long chronology of at least 65,000 years ago.

"This discovery strongly supports the idea that the ancestors of the First Australians were in Sahul by 65,000 years ago," Dr Oktaviana said.

Researchers have proposed two main routes into Sahul. One is a northern path through Sulawesi and the Spice Islands toward New Guinea. The other is a southern route that carried early seafarers more directly to Australia through Timor or nearby islands.

Professor Renaud Joannes-Boyau of the Geoarchaeology and Archaeometry Research Group at Southern Cross University said the new dating adds weight to the northern route.

"With the dating of this extremely ancient rock art in Sulawesi, we now have the oldest direct evidence for the presence of modern humans along this northern migration corridor into Sahul," Professor Joannes-Boyau said.

The study, titled "Rock art from at least 67,800 years ago in Sulawesi," was published in Nature.

📸 Credit: Max Aubert

Researchers Identify 67,800-Year-Old Handprint As Oldest Known Art

Photo by Adrijana on Pexels (https://www.pexels.com/photo/brown-llama-1575857/)

A llama in a sweater is not a normal airport sight. At Portland International Airport, it is a real one.

About once a month, llamas and alpacas from the Ridgefield, Washington-based nonprofit Mountain Peaks Therapy Llamas and Alpacas visit PDX to spend time with travelers. Since 2023, the animals have been part of the airport's animal-assisted therapy program, joining a lineup that began with dogs in 2019.

The therapy animals have become a popular part of the airport experience, with travelers lining up to meet them.

"PDX is known for doing things differently, and the llamas and alpacas – with their gentle nature and quirky personalities – have reached icon status in the airport, beloved by all," PDX spokesperson Molly Prescott told USA TODAY. "There’s nothing quite like the delight and surprise you’ll see on people’s faces when they encounter the llamas and alpacas for the first time."

With handlers alongside them, the trained animals spend time at the entrance and in the main terminal. They are hard to miss. Llamas and alpacas can stand about 6 feet tall and weigh up to 450 pounds, and they usually arrive in themed outfits. Pirate and western cowboy costumes are among the looks they wear.

Their visits last about an hour and a half. During that time, passengers can pet and hug the animals. Some also get a chance to give them a carrot kiss, feeding a small piece of carrot to the animal from their mouth or hands. Each camelid has its own trading card, which some frequent fliers collect.

"The whole purpose of the therapy is to help with anxiety and de-stress, so I'm always watchful," said Mountain Peaks owner Lori Gregory to USA Today. "We get quite a few people traveling for not fun reasons, they're going to visit their loved one for the last time, or they're going to a funeral or you know, things that are hard. We always try to watch for those people to give them extra time with the animal and just express our love and care."

The airport visits grew out of Gregory's long involvement with llamas. She said it started after her family moved to rural Washington and had enough acreage for large animals. Her daughter, Shannon Joy, first wanted a horse, but changed course after joining a school program and learning about other animals. Through that program, Joy borrowed a local llama named Shania, after Canadian pop star Shania Twain, to show at fairs.

"We decided to join that to learn about these animals and just fell in love," Gregory said.

Later, in 2002, the family bought a young llama named Rojo, along with two others because llamas are herd animals. Gregory said Rojo stood out for his gentle disposition. He grew to about 350 to 400 pounds and, she said, stayed unusually social.

"and never grew out of that dog-like personality and people-friendly personality," Gregory said.

Gregory took Rojo to parades and fairs, where people were drawn to him. He liked the attention and enjoyed hugs and pets.

She said not every llama is suited to that kind of work. Llamas can be smart, protective and stubborn, and they are often known for spitting. Gregory said a llama's behavior depends heavily on how it is raised and socialized, along with its natural demeanor. Alpacas, she said, are smaller, more timid and shy, but the more independent ones can do well as therapy animals if they are comfortable away from the herd.

"We try to educate a lot when we go out because people have such misconceptions and kind of put them all in the same basket," Gregory said to USA Today. "Oh, he doesn't like being here. He'd rather be in the pasture. I say, well, some are different and really actually enjoy new environments and are curious."

In 2007, Gregory said she saw a boy in a wheelchair light up after meeting Rojo at a fair. She said that moment showed her Rojo could help people as a therapy animal.

Gregory and Joy, who had just finished high school, then took Rojo through the now-discontinued animal therapy program at DoveLewis Emergency Animal Hospital in downtown Portland. He became the first llama to graduate from the program.

After his new status was announced at a gala that year, Rojo's popularity took off. He began visiting places around Portland, including charity events, senior homes and schools.

Mountain Peaks now has six llamas and five alpacas on the farm, though not all of them are suited to therapy visits. The organization also runs a for-profit branch that brings llamas to events such as weddings, and the proceeds help fund the nonprofit.

The airport connection began in 2020, when PDX invited Mountain Peaks llamas to help celebrate the opening of a new concourse. Wearing outfits that said "I heart PDX," two llamas walked through the airport greeting travelers. They returned during the holiday season, and videos of them in Christmas sweaters went viral.

Now the visits are a regular part of the airport's official therapy program. The airport says the llamas add "a dose of novelty and surprise."

"There’s nothing quite like a wagging tail and friendly face to bring a little bit of comfort and joy," said Prescott. "Especially in a city like Portland, known for being animal-friendly."

When the animals arrive at PDX, they get valet parking and skip the security checkpoint line to be patted down.

Gregory said the visits also help the animals by exposing them to different settings as part of their training. The animals also spend time with airport staff, who often work in stressful jobs.

"It just really made me appreciate our airport," said Gregory. "It's very unique and the effort to try to make travel amazing for the people that go through the airport, I've just been very impressed with everybody."

Photo by Adrijana on Pexels (https://www.pexels.com/photo/brown-llama-1575857/)

Portland Airport Brings In Therapy Llamas And Alpacas To Calm Stressed Travelers

Photo by Elle Hughes on Pexels (https://www.pexels.com/photo/glass-filled-with-wine-2954929/)

Euro News

At Pompeii, the ruins are growing grapes again.

Dozens of grape vines have been planted among the archaeological site’s ruins in a project aimed at bringing back the southern Italian volcanic region’s long history of producing quality grapes from inside Pompeii’s walls.

The project will produce thousands of bottles of wine from grapes grown within the site.

Pompeii was buried under about six metres of volcanic ash after Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 A.D.

Archaeologists found signs on frescoed walls beneath that ash showing wine was an important part of ancient Roman society. Parties and meals included rituals linked to Dionysus, the God of wine. They also found ceramic jars buried in the ground for holding wine and amphorae used to export it.

The move to revive the vineyards is tied to that history, and it is also intended to help the local economy.

“In Pompeii 2,000 years ago there were vineyards and today there are again vineyards where we cultivate wine and this helps us to lower the costs for maintenance,” said Gabriel Zuchtriegel, Director of Archaeological Park of Pompeii to Euro News.

“[This is] a fantastic opportunity to let people know about the history of Pompeii which is in large part the history of agriculture and the countryside and of the balance between human communities and environment,” added Zuchtreigel to Euro News.

According to Zuchtreigel, wine was part of everyday life for ancient Pompeiians. Soldiers drank it in the morning. People added herbs and spices to it, and heated it to make mulled wine in winter.

He said they produced so much wine that they exported it across the Mediterranean, including to Spain, North Africa and modern Turkey, and north to what is now Germany and Britain.

The grape being used for the new vineyard is Aglianico. It originally came from Greece and was introduced to Italy around the seventh to sixth centuries BC.

Aglianico is one of the most famous varieties of ancient grapes, and it is now also found in many vines in California and Australia.

The vineyard says the grapes will be cultivated using sustainable agricultural methods.

The project is being carried out with Italian wine producer Feudi di San Gregorio. Together, they plan to produce about 30,000 bottles of wine to be sold at the park and online.

Photo by Elle Hughes on Pexels (https://www.pexels.com/photo/glass-filled-with-wine-2954929/)

Pompeii Project Revives Ancient Winemaking Tradition With A Modern Twist

inspiremore

Some people get dressed for work. Carmella turns it into a statement.

A 76-year-old woman named Carmella has gone viral on TikTok after her co-worker, Tatum, shared videos of her outfits, with viewers quickly locking in on her style and her shoes.

Tatum told People that Carmella had long been an office standout.

“What first struck me about Carmela’s style was how effortlessly cool it is, stylish in a way that feels completely timeless,” Tatum told People. “Her style is incredible, but it’s really her energy and personality that make it so special, and I just wanted to share that with the world.”

According to People, Carmella’s looks have been a fixture at PureLife Dental, where Tatum said co-workers look forward to her “look of the day.” Tatum also told People that Carmella’s style has inspired others in the office to change the way they dress for work.

Carmella told People she still loves putting together outfits well into her 70s.

“I would describe my style as confident, polished, and unapologetically bold,” she told People.

She also said her style reflects how she feels about herself at this point in her life.

“Getting dressed at 76 is an act of self-respect and joy,” Carmella said. “Never let age dictate your confidence.”

TikTok users responded quickly after the videos spread, with many focusing on one detail in particular.

“Her heels OMG,” one person commented.

“Noting for next years Coachella heels??” another added.

“Who is this diva !!!” another commenter wrote.

Others kept it simple.

“Omg so iconic,” a fan wrote.

People reported that Carmella may be new to viral attention, but in her workplace she has already been known as a style icon. Tatum told the outlet that Carmella’s fashion sense, along with her personality, is what made her want to post the videos in the first place.

“What first struck me about Carmela’s style was how effortlessly cool it is, stylish in a way that feels completely timeless,” Tatum told People. “Her style is incredible, but it’s really her energy and personality that make it so special, and I just wanted to share that with the world.”

TikTok Celebrates 76-Year-Old Office Icon Carmella For Her Bold, Timeless Style

Good News Network

It started with a towel. Now it’s turning heads.

At just 16, Harrison Nott has built a six-figure business from his bedroom, balancing schoolwork with a company that pulled in more than £100,000 last year. And recently, that hustle paid off in a big way.

The Essex teenager won the Ali Baba CoCreate Pitch competition, beating thousands of entrepreneurs from around the world and walking away with a $200,000 top prize. Along the way, he also caught the attention of former England footballer Rio Ferdinand, who was so impressed he gave Harrison his number.

“I felt like a celebrity,” Harrison told Essex Live. “It felt like a dream... It was out of this world.”

Not bad for a business that started with a simple idea and a box of 100 towels.

Harrison launched CoolTowel in 2023, inspired by his own frustration as a squash player trying to find a quality cooling towel in the UK. His version is straightforward. Wet it, wring it, snap it, and it cools down, thanks to a three-layer polyester material that holds moisture.

From there, things moved quickly.

He began selling through TikTok Shop and Shopify, documenting the process as he packed orders himself. At one point during the summer, he hit £15,000 in sales in a single day. To date, he has shipped more than 30,000 orders.

“It’s gone from a relatively small side hustle run from my bedroom to a big business,” he said. “I’ve had to grow up very fast.”

That growth has meant changes at school too. Harrison now follows a part-time timetable to keep up with demand, with support from teachers who have helped him navigate the balancing act.

This is not his first attempt at business. He started selling items on eBay at age eight and has launched several ventures since, many of which failed. He says those early setbacks helped him figure out what works.

“They’ve given me the skills I needed to start a new one,” he said.

Support at home has played a role as well. His father, Matthew, who runs his own business, loaned him money to manage cash flow during a busy stretch. Harrison also used his dad’s warehouse during peak periods, although much of the operation still runs out of his bedroom.

That hands-on approach has become part of the brand. Harrison films himself packing orders and shares the clips online, giving customers a direct look at the person behind the product.

“I think it’s tangible for people to see the business owner do it,” he said. “It’s real.”

Despite the strong revenue, he is quick to point out that costs add up, from advertising to affiliate commissions. On average, he brings in about £1,000 a day.

Still, the bigger picture is already taking shape.

Harrison has trademarked the brand, turned it into a limited company, and is now planning international expansion. He is also thinking beyond the towel itself, with ambitions to build a personal brand and eventually help others start their own businesses.

“I want to help people be their best self and launch their business,” he said.

Back at school, he has sponsored sports day, presented his business story in assembly, and even carries a CoolTowel-branded backpack and phone case.

For his dad, the trajectory is not surprising.

“When he fails at something, he doesn’t just say ‘Oh I tried’,” Matthew told Essex Live. “He works out where he went wrong.”

From a bedroom idea to a growing company, Harrison’s story is still unfolding. But if the early chapters are any indication, he is not slowing down anytime soon.

 📸credit: cooltowel.com

Teen Entrepreneur Wins $200,000 Prize For His Two-Hour Cooling Towel

Sunny Skyz

At Wildwood Zoo, the snow came down so hard that even the people caring for the animals got trapped.

When a blizzard dumped more than two feet of snow on the zoo in Marshfield, Wisconsin, manager Kyle Kirk stayed at the facility for three straight nights to care for animals across all 27 species.

“This is the most snow I think I’ve ever seen in my whole life,” Kirk said.

At one point, the storm pinned him inside the staff building.

“There was a solid hour that I really couldn’t help really anybody because I was completely snowed in,” he said.

Once he could get back outside, Kirk started digging out smaller animals that had been buried under the snow, including quail, prairie dogs and skunks.

“I was able to dig them out… our skunks were completely snowed in,” he said.

Even in the middle of the storm, Kirk said there was a lighter moment with the skunks.

“It was kind of comical because I think our skunks thought that I brought the snow… they were stomping at me and saying, ‘Oh, you can take away the snow now,’” he said.

Kirk also carved paths through enclosures so porcupines and skunks could move around again. He checked on foxes that had already shed their winter coats to make sure they were warm enough during the sudden freeze.

Some of the larger animals handled the conditions with little trouble. The Kodiak bears lounged comfortably, and the lynx appeared well-suited to the deep snow.

“It was really fun to see him walking on top of the snow with his great big paws,” Kirk said. “He could have went for another two feet for sure.”

Not every animal managed as easily. Kirk said he had to lift sandhill cranes out of the snow after they got stuck.

For him, staying at the zoo through the blizzard was simply part of the job.

“A lot of other people can call in sick or get snowed in, but simply, I can’t,” Kirk said. “There’s really no reason to have these animals if we’re not going to care for them in the best possible way at our disposal.”

 📸credit: WSAW Newschannel 7

Zoo Manager Stays 3 Nights To Protect Animals During Massive Blizzard

A Southwest Airlines announcement turned an airport arrival into a public salute for 53 veterans.

According to @davidjharrisjr on Instagram, an Honor Flight carrying 53 veterans landed and drew a cheering welcome from people at the airport. The veterans were described as being of varying ages and mobility levels as they exited the plane.
David J. Harris Jr. says the moment showed how touched the veterans were by what it called a simple but powerful gesture. It also said Coffey Anderson’s song "Mr. Red White and Blue" played as the group arrived.

The reaction continued online, where the source text said thousands of people in the comment section shared their feelings about the welcome.

“How we should ALWAYS treat our veterans,” one commenter wrote.

Another added, “It’s the homecoming these Vietnam vets should have gotten the first time they came home.”

A military wife also commented about her husband’s experience after service.

“We owe them a huge debt of gratitude. My husband came home injured with no fanfare. He would serve again if he could!” she wrote.

Anderson also responded to the video and said he was glad his music was part of the veterans’ arrival.

“Thank y’all for using my song, Mr. Red White and Blue” for this video. Patriotism isn’t going anywhere! We love and honor ALL those that served. All gave some. Some gave all,” he wrote.

The source text described veterans as a group that deserves thanks and support, noting that military service often means long periods away from family and friends and, for some, never coming home.

The airport welcome came after Southwest Airlines announced the Honor Flight was arriving with 53 veterans on board.

📸 credit: davidjharrisjr

An Airport Crowd Gave 53 Veterans A Hero’s Welcome After an Honor Flight Landing

A 9-year-old deadlifting 180 pounds will get people talking. For Lucy Milgrim, it also brought millions of views.

The New York girl has gone viral after an Instagram video showed her lifting 180 pounds at the Arnold Sports Festival in Columbus, Ohio. In the clip, Milgrim wears bright pink and blue shoes and a custom powerlifting belt as she deadlifts the weight with AC/DC's "Thunderstruck" playing in the background.

After lifting the bar to her waist, she drops it, smiles at the crowd, flexes her muscles and gives her father and coach, Brett Milgrim, a high-five.

Brett Milgrim said the lift was impressive, but not something she will try to top again soon.

"It was a cool thing to do, but in terms of when she's going to attempt a big number like that again, not for a long time," he said.

The video has more than 3 million views on Instagram.

In many ways, Milgrim's life looks like that of other 9-year-old girls. She likes spending time with friends, making arts and crafts and studying math at school. She also competes in wrestling, powerlifting, boxing and jiu-jitsu.

Milgrim told USA TODAY that she has squatted 150 pounds and bench pressed 85 pounds. Her mother, Michelle Milgrim, told USA TODAY that during her first year of powerlifting, Lucy set three American Records through USA Powerlifting.

Brett Milgrim told USA TODAY his daughter has always been unusually strong.

"People see these numbers, and they say, 'Wow, she must be training really hard to get that number.' The truth is, she just has a different baseline than most kids," Brett told USA TODAY. "Lucy's always been this really naturally strong kid."

Milgrim said she has wrestled competitively for three years. She said she became interested after watching her parents work out and after going with her father and brother to wrestling practices.

"My mom and dad; they were working out in the gym, and I saw them doing all this cool stuff, and I wanted to try it too," Milgrim said. "I got interested in wrestling because my dad (is) a wrestling coach and he used to bring me and my brother to wrestling practices."

She said she goes to wrestling practice four or five days a week and trains in the family's home gym once a week, usually on Sundays. One of her wrestling coaches is Vougar Oroudjov, who won the bronze medal for light-flyweight wrestling at the 1992 Barcelona Summer Olympics.

Milgrim said her favorite part of wrestling is being with friends and winning.

"My favorite part of wrestling is when you get to hang out with all your friends, and when you win the match, you get your hand raised," Milgrim said.

When it comes to powerlifting, she said her favorite part is hitting a "really big weight."

At home, Brett Milgrim said he focuses on teaching skill rather than testing how much weight his daughter can move.

"We don't really chase numbers," Brett said. "What I'm really looking for when I'm having Lucy ... workout with is ... for (her) to maintain postural control throughout a movement that can be repeated, so not something that can be done once for an impressive number."

He said only about one-third of her training includes lifting weights. Most of it is calisthenics, including hang cleans, box jumps, one-legged jumps, push-ups and sit-ups.

"When she did the 180 (-pound deadlift), there's obvious amount of strain to perform the lift, but what I was most impressed about was that she maintained postural control and technique throughout the movement," Brett said.

Questions about youth strength training often follow videos like Milgrim's. According to an American Academy of Pediatrics report published in 2020 and reaffirmed in 2024, children who take part in resistance training are likely to see improvements in health, fitness, rehabilitation of injuries, injury reduction and physical literacy. The report says injury rates are low when proper technique is well supervised.

The report also says overtraining, including prolonged heavy loads or too little recovery time between sessions, has been tied to increased injuries and illness in children. The AAP recommends one to two days of rest per week from training. It also says adequate caloric and fluid intake is important for a healthy body and mind.

The Mayo Clinic says non-weighted strength training can be part of a children's fitness plan from age 7 or 8. Organizations including the AAP and Mayo Clinic recommend medical consultation before a child begins resistance training.

Michelle Milgrim told USA TODAY her daughter sees a pediatrician every year and works regularly with a physical therapist.

Lucy Milgrim's Instagram account, managed by her mother, had 174,000 followers as of March 19. Brett Milgrim said Lucy does not track that side of it.

"She doesn't look at comments. She doesn't know amounts of followers or views or any of that. She's a 9-year-old girl. She does 9-year-old girl things," Brett added. "She'll go to wrestling practices, and she'll come home and put on a dress and ... play with her little sister."

 📸credit: @Lucy.Milgrim on IG

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