Tommy Kono

Tommy Kono

Tamio "Tommy" Kono on the cover of the August, 1955 issue of Strength and Health Magazine. A year later he would go on to win the Goldmedal at the 1956 Olympic games in Melbourne, Australia with a 447.5 kg total (140+132.5 + 175).

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John Davis

John Davis

The great John Davis snatching his personal best of 330-1/2 pounds at the 1952 Olympic Games in Helsinki.

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Russ Knipp

Russ Knipp from Pittsburgh, Pensylvania pressing 355 at the 1969 Sr. Nationals ( An American & National meet record.)

Knipp never did medal at the Olympics but he did compete at two Games (Mexico City - 1968. Munich - 1972), won seventeen medals in international competition, was a three-time U.S. National Champion and set nine worlds records.

Russ Knipp

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Alexander Zass - The Amazing Samson

Alexander Zass - The Amazing Samson

The great Russian strongman Alexander Zass a.k.a The Amazing Sampsonbending a steel rod in his teeth. Many of the oldtime strongmen bent steel as a part of their act since it was a feat many members of the audience could more easily relate to.

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Nerves of Steel - Muscles Like Iron by George Jowett

Nerves of Steel - Muscles Like Iron by George Jowett

Nerves of Steel - Muscles Like Iron was an advertising booklet for the Mighty George Jowett, which highlighted his many successful students and which also promoted his Jowett Institute Course.

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Pete George

Pete George

Akron, Ohio's Pete George on the cover of the March, 1956 issue of Strength and Health Magazine.
Over his career, George won five World Championships (1947, 1951, 1953, 1954, 1955) and three Olmpic Medals (Silver: 1948 games London, England; Gold: 1952 Games, Helsinki, Finland; Silver: 1956 games Melbourne, Australia).

He set three world records and his best lifts were as follows:

Press: 122.5 kg

Snatch: 127.5 kg

Clean and Jerk: 164.5 kg

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Clyde Emrich

Clyde Emrich

Another one of the great U.S. weightlifters is Clyde Emrich, who was a 4-time National Champion (1952, 1956, 1967, and 1959), Pan-Am Games Champion (1959) and competed in the 1952 Olympic games in Helskini.

During his career, Clyde broke two worlds records as a middle weight in the clean and jerk. Clyde went on to become the strength coach for the Chicago Bears for a number of years.

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Launceston Elliott

Launceston Elliott

Already a strength star in his teens when he won the British national Championships, in 1896, Launceston Elliott traveled to Athens, Greece to represent England at the very first modern Olympic Games. Elliot had been trained by Eugen Sandow and bared quite a resemblance to his mentor, and, as I have mentioned before, things were a bit different back then -- in weightlifting they contested two events: the "one-hand lift" and the "two-hands lift" (i.e. the "clean and jerk.")

In the first contest, the "two hand lift" Launceston tied with Viggo Jensen of Denmark when each lifted 111 kg (244-1/2 pounds). The Gold medal, however, was awarded to the Dane because the judges thought he lifted the weight "in much better form" than his English competitor.

In the one-hand event, Elliot lifted 71 kg to the Dane's 57 and thus Britain's first Olympic Gold Medal winner was crowned!

At those games Elliott also competed in the 100 m dash, wrestling, and rope climbing although he was not as successful in the other events as he was in weight lifting. After his Olympic success, he returned home to England, won the first major physique contest ever held and toured the country as a performing strongman.

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Joe Kinney

Joe Kinney

THE Man when it comes to grip strength is Mr. Joe Kinney from Bean Station, Tennessee. In 1996, he became the first man to close the Ironmind #4 Gripper and did so in a manner that has never been duplicated before or since; it looked easier than a Trainer as he slammed the handles shut. Pictured above is how Joe "opens a beer" - by squeezing the can until explodes!

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The Human Vise - Pat Povilaitis

The Human Vise - Pat Povilaitis

The Human Vise aka Pat Povilaitis, doing his thing, bending an Ironmind Red Nail or something of the sort. You may not realize it but bending steel is a full-body worlout, not just upper body. Regardless, you will still need a strong grip and a powerful set of arms.

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Ken Hall

Ken Hall

Well-known for his superb abdominal development, Ken Hall has been one of the most active bodybuilders in history winning over 250 trophies in a career that has spanned the better part of the last five decades.

After moving to the U.S. from his native Barbados, Hall began winning many contests around the New York City area.

His first place finishes include 1957 Mr. New York City (AAU), 1959 Mr. New York Metropolitan (AAU), 1960 Mr. New York City (AAU). He also competed in the 1962 AAU Mr. America contest, finishing 10th (His friend Joe Abbenda, who he had previously defeated at the 1962 Mr. New York State contest, was the eventual winner.)

Ken Hall keep competing well into his 70's and won many Masters Bodybuilding titles.

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Fred Lowe

Fred Lowe

Michigan native and MSU grad Fred Lowe is one of America's greatest Olympic Weightlifters who won the first of his 8 National Championships in 1969.

He went on to compete in the Olypics Games three times(1968 - Mexico City, Mexico, 1972 Munich, Germany (pictured above), 1976 - Montreal, Canada)

At a bodyweight of 165 pounds, Fred Lowe is the lightest lifter to ever Clean & Jerk over 400 -- a record that still stands over 20 years after it was set.

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John J. Flanagan

John J. Flanagan

The great thrower John J. Flanagan in mid-turn as he prepares to throw the 56-pound weight in the 1904 Olympics.

Falanagan, who immigrated to the U.S, in 1897, competed in three Olympic games: (1900-Paris, 1904-St. Louis, 1908 London) and won four Olympic medals, in the throwing events: three Gold in the Hammer (setting the Olympic record of 51.01 m) and one Silver medal in the 56-pound weight throw.

He also competed in the discus in Paris in 1900, finishing seventh.

The Hammer throw continues to be an ongoing event in the Olympic Track and Field competition but the 56-pound weight was only contested twice: the 1904 Games in St. Louis, Missouri and the 1920 Gamesheld in Antwerp, Belgium.

The 56-pound weight is, however, still contested in the Highland Games where it is thrown for distance and height.

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The Tug-o-War Competition at the 1904 Olympics

The Tug-o-War Competition at the 1904 Olympics

"St. Louis Missouri -- On Wednesday August 30th, 1904, the tug-o-war contest was pulled on the turf without the cleats, the ground having been dug up, so that the men could get some sort of hold with their feet. Six teams had entered for the honors as follows: Boers, South Africa; first and second teams of the Southwestern Turnverein, of St. Louis; Pan-Hellenic team, Greece; Milwaukee Athletic Club, Milwaukee, Wis, New York Athletic Club, New York.

In the prelimininary heats, Milwaukee defeated the Boers; the first St. Louis Turnverein team defeated the Greeks two inches after five minutes of work; and New York Athletic Club defeated the second team of the Southwestern Turnverein of St. Louis by four feet.

On Thursday, September 1st, the final rounds of the Olympic tug-o-war contest were contested and the championship when to Milwaukee Athletic Club, with the two St. Louis teams, West St. Louis Turnverein second and third; forth honors going to the New York Athletic Club."

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George Levasseur - Ringling Brothers Circus Strongman

George Levasseur - Ringling Brothers Circus Strongman

This spectacular elephant lifting stunt of
George Levasseur's turns the calander back to the year 1907 when the Ringling Bros. billed the Detroit-born strongman as "The Strongest Man on Earth."

Levasseur was the center ring attraction with this and other dramatic displays of his strength such as allowing a large motor car filled with passengers to drive over his body.

Another sensational stunt was known as "The Human Chain where the daring strongman would resist the pulling powers of two teams of horses tugging in opposite directions in vain to seperate his clenched arms.

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Charles Rigoulot

Charles Rigoulot

In July of 1924, Charles Rigoulot was crowned the light-heavyweight Champion at the Olympic Games held in Paris, France. Today there are only two Olympic lifts, but things were a little different back then when a variety of lifts were contested.

Here's a look at Rigoulot's championship numbers: One-Hand snatch: 197-1/2 pounds, One-Hand Clean and Jerk: 203-1/2 pounds, Two-Hands Military Press: 187 pounds, Two-Hands Snatch: 225-1/2 pounds, Two-Hands Clean and Jerk: 297 pounds.

As you can see, Rigoulot was a little low in the press at this time but more than made up for it with his snatching ability. Rigoulot's total of 1103-1/2 pounds was the third highest of the entire competition... and, interestingly enough he also used shot-loaded globes instead of normal plate-loaded equipment like his competitors.

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Doug Hepburn - 1953 Heavyweight World Champion

Doug Hepburn - 1953 Heavyweight World Champion

Doug Hepburn's final lift to win the 1953 Heavyweight World Weightlifting Championship held in Stockholm, Sweden. (defeating John Davis) The lift pictured here was a 363-pound clean and jerk -- the highest of the contest. Doug's other lifts of the day were a 371-pound press and a 297-pound snatch for a total of 1031 pounds.

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