Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Victor DeLamarreVictor Delamarre was another great name in the long line of Canadian Strongmen. He was one of thirteen children and built the foundation for his great strength at a young age by farming and working as a lumberjack. When he was 14 years old, DeLamarre studied the exploits of Louis Cyr and declared that he would one day break Cyr's records - a rather bold statement for someone who weighed all of 110 pounds. Amazingly, this would come to pass on April 2nd 1914, when, at age 25, DeLammare bent-pressed 309-1/2 lbs at the Arcade theater of Montreal.
Labels: Bent Press, Canadian Strongman, Louis Cyr, Montreal, Quebec, Victor DeLamarre
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Monday, January 18, 2010
The Great AntonioOne of the more colorful Canadian Strongmen was "The Great Antonio" who lived in Montreal. Antonio was known to pull several city buses at once, sometimes with his hair and, as shown here, could lift a truck. Antonio also certainly lived up to his "Grand" nickname, usually tipping the scales somewhere between four and five hundred pounds at a height of 6' 6". He also toured Japan as a professional wrestler.
Labels: Canadian Strongman, Hair Pulling, Montreal, Professional Wrestling, The Great Antonio, Truck Lifting
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Rare Louis Cyr PictureHere's a rare picture of Louis Cyr that I guarantee you have never seen. Also, some pictures of Cyr lifting weights look a bit "off" or awkward (this one included) -- it's because in Cyr's day, one had to remain still when having pictures taken. This was simply not possible when heavy weights were involves, so props were often used. Regardless, Cyr proved his strength many times over.
Labels: Barrel, Canadian Strongman, Dumbbell Lift, Globe Dumbbell, Louis Cyr
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Monday, January 11, 2010
The Strongest Man in The World: Louis CyrLouis Cyr passed on nearly a hundred years ago but his legacy is still as strong as ever. In fact, people are still writing books about him today. Case in point: The Strongest Man in The World: Louis Cyr, a children's book written in 2007 by Nicolas Debon. The artwork in this one is superb if you get a chance to pick one up.
Labels: Canadian Strongman, Louis Cyr, Strongest Man in the World
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Thursday, December 31, 2009
Oscar MarineauA closer look at the Canadian strongman Oscar Marineau, who began lifting weights at 15 years old and retired as a professional strongman some 32 years later. At a bodyweight of 142 pounds, he performed a right hand dumbbell press of 102 pounds, a one hand snatch of 140 pounds, and a backlift of 2900 pounds (along with many others). He often competed against, and beat, individuals of twice his size. His most impressive feat, however, was likely the fact that he had 10 children!
Labels: Back Lift, Canadian Strongman, One Arm Dumbbell Press, one arm snatch, Oscar Marineau
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Friday, December 18, 2009
Arthur DandurandTo say that the Canadian Strongman Arthur Dandurand was gifted in the forearm department would be an understatement. He not only was able to deadlift over 550 pounds with one arm but also achieved a rectangular fix with 177 pounds - an all-time record! Keep in mind that Dandurand only weighed 180 pounds or so himself.
Labels: Arthur Dandurand, Canadian Strongman, Forearm Development, One Arm Deadlift, Rectangular Fix
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Saturday, December 12, 2009
Oscar MarineauOscar Marineau, the great Canadian Strongman is shown here with a unique exhibition feat: that's 850 pounds supported on his back which he took out for a stroll. The two engines weighed 346 pounds each and his son weighed over 150 pounds. In order to get the weights in position in the first place, Marineau had to perform a partial squat. Marineau weighed only 142 pounds himself.
Labels: Canadian Strongman, Heavy Partial Movements, Odd Object, Oscar Marineau, Supporting Feat
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Thursday, November 12, 2009
Doug HepburnThe great Canadian lifter, Doug Hepburn is shown here in what probably could be called his signature pose. If the issues of Strength and Health on the wall are current, this picture dates to early 1947. -- Although I suspect this was taken later than that.
Don't know if you realized this but growing up, Doug was of very average height and build. At 17 years old, Doug was 5'8" and weighed only 145 pounds. It was around that age that he discovered weight lifting... and the rest is history. To give you an idea of Doug's immense power, his best eventual repetition 2-arm overhead barbell press was 335 pounds for 10 reps!
Labels: Canadian Strongman, Doug Hepburn, Press, Strength and Health Magazine
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Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Hector DecarieHector Decarie first achieved notoriety around 1904 when he Bent Pressed 317 pounds. A few years later he met Louis Cyr in a famous challenge match. Despite the fact that they tied in the contest, Cyr passed on his title of "World's Strongest Man" to his young challenger. It was a fitting mantle, Decarie surpassed several of Cyr's feats. Interestingly, Decarie is not as big as you would think based on the pictures of him. He stood 5'7" and weighed only around 191 lbs.
Labels: Bent Press, Canadian Strongman, Challenge Match, Hector Decarie, Louis Cyr
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Monday, July 13, 2009
A short clip featuring the amazing Canadian strongman Louis Cyr and some of his most famous strength feats. (Video has sound.)
Labels: Canadian Strongman, Feats of Strength, Louis Cyr, Video
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Monday, June 22, 2009
Arthur DandurandAt a contest in 1908, the great Canadian strongman Arthur Dandurand pushed a wheelbarrow loaded with 4300 pounds of pig iron for a distance of 23 feet. The Montreal strongman weighed only 190 pounds at the time.
Labels: Arthur Dandurand, Canadian Strongman, Feats of Strength, Grip Strength, Wheelbarrow Lift
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Sunday, May 24, 2009
The Brothers Baillargeon The Brothers Baillargeon are another entry in the long line of great Quebec Strongmen. From left to right: Charles, Paul, Adrien, Lionel, Jean and Antonio. They traveled the Continent performing tremendous strength feats and all eventually became famous professional wrestlers. Note the family crest on their uniforms. It featured the number "6" (representing all six brothers) a beaver, their name and a maple leaf logo.
Labels: Adrien Baillargeon, Antonio Baillargeon, Baillargeon Brothers, Canadian Strongman, Feats of Strength, Jean Baillargeon, Paul Baillargeon, Pro Wrestler, Quebec Charles Baillargeon, Wrestling
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Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Eugene CaouetteEugene Caouette is another name in the great Quebec Strongman Tradition. The giant French Canadian stood well over six feet and tipped the scales at 460 pounds! His best lifts were a Crucifix with a pair of 76-pound dumbbells, a Kennedy Lift with 1354 pounds, one-arm snatch 173-3/4 pounds (with either hand) and a one-arm clean and jerk of 213 pounds.
Labels: Canadian Strongman, Crucifix, Dumbbell Crucifix, Eugene Caouette, Jefferson Lift, Oldtime Strongman, One Arm Clean and Jerk, one arm snatch, Quebec Strongman
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Friday, February 27, 2009
Doug Hepburn: The First Official 500-Pound Bench PressThe first Official 500-Pound Bench Press was performed in Vancouver, British Columbia on December 10th, 1953 by the great Canadian strength athlete Doug Hepburn. Note the primitive "bench" (what appears to be little more than a number of 2x4s nailed together), the lack of uprights, and the Jackson barbell plates.
Labels: 500-Pound Bench Press, Barbell Bench Press, Bench Press, Canadian Strongman, Doug Hepburn, Jackson Barbell Company
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Monday, February 16, 2009
Canadian Strongman Gaston HeonThere has been a long tradition of Canadian Strongmen, one that you probably haven't heard of is Gaston Heon of Quebec. Heon performed standard feats such as phone book tearing, the human link and having a large rock broken on his chest with a sledge hammer... but he also performed several unusual -- and somewhat dangerous -- feats, such as allowing himself to be run over by a car traveling 40 miles per hour(!) and this backlift/support of a 3000 pound automobile.
Labels: Canadian Strongman, Car, Gaston Heon, Human Link, Phonebook Tearing, Quebec, Quebec Strongman
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Sunday, February 08, 2009
"Old Joe" Taylor"Old Joe" Taylor of Hamilton, Ontario does a bit of Neck Training. He was the only man in the whole city able to perform the feat shown here: lifting a 250-pound block of stone with his neck in this manner. "Old Joe" was 70 years old at the time, stood 5'6" and weighed only 118 pounds. We'll cover a few of Joe's other amazing strength feats at a later date.
Labels: Canadian Strongman, Joe Taylor, Neck Lift, Neck Strength
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Monday, October 20, 2008
Louis Cyr"May 27th, 1865 - Boston, Massachusetts - Previously, the great Cyr had made the statement that on this night he was going to outlift any back-lift record he had made and that weight would not be under four thousand pounds...
The hour arrived and the indomitable Cyr ascended the stairs leading to the exhibition platform with a firm step, his heart light, and his general demeanor that of a man imbued with the idea that he was about to perform the most remarkable feat of his life. He paused as the cheering ceased and cast a cursory glance over the audience.
Would he succeed?
Anxious inquiry was depicted upon many faces. The platform creaked like a rusty hinge... It began to move... Up it was going sure enough. A mighty shout tore from the throats of every watcher as they saw the terrific load of three thousand four hundred pounds suspended in mid-air, supported on the back of the invincible Cyr."
Labels: Back Lift, Canadian Strongman, Louis Cyr, Strongman Feat
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Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Doug HepburnDoug Hepburn doing his thing. At the time this picture was taken Doug had cleaned and pressed 381 pounds -- the heaviest weight that had ever been lifted in this manner. This picture was taken as Doug was preparing for the 1954 British Empire games in his hometown of Vancouver (At which he won a gold medal.)
Labels: British Empire Games, Canadian Strongman, Clean and Press, Doug Hepburn, Press, Vancouver
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Friday, August 01, 2008
Doug Hepburn - 1953 Heavyweight World ChampionDoug 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.
Labels: 1953 World Championships, Barbell, Canadian Strongman, Clean and Jerk, Doug Hepburn, John Davis, Olympic Lifting, Olympic Weightlifing Exercise, Olympic Weightlifting, Press, Snatch, Sweden, Total
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Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Benoit CoteBenoit Cote the great Canadian strongman and the man who beat Doug Hepburn in a head-to-head contest shows what a real squat looks like.
Labels: Benoit Cote, Canadian Strongman, Doug Hepburn, Quebec Strongman, Squat
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Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Doug HepburnDoug Hepburn's mighty right arm... the same arm he performed a one-hand holdout and 37 overhead presses with a 120-pound dumbbell. It will be a long time before we see the likes of Doug Hepburn again.
Labels: Canadian Strongman, Doug Hepburn, Dumbbell Press, one arm holdout
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Monday, April 07, 2008
| The great Canadian Strongman Arthur Dandurand at 48 years old, still looking very impressive. As far as feats of grip strength, Dandurand could deadlift 550 pounds with one hand and reverse curl 177 pounds. |  Arthur Dandurand at 48 Years Old |
Labels: Arthur Dandurand, Canadian Strongman, Deadlift, Forearm Development, Forearm Strength, Grip Strength, Oldtime Strongman, One Arm Deadlift, Reverse Curl
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Wednesday, February 06, 2008
 Arthur Dandurand | Arthur Dandurand was yet another great Canadian Strongman. It was said that he had a 16-inch forearm at a bodyweight of only 185 pounds and it certainly looks that way in this classic shot. Dandurand was often called the "Canadian Sandow" and some of his best lifts were as follows: In addition to these feats, Dandurand was very good at juggling and bent-pressing human weights. He also could shoulder a 406 Pound truck engine and at a contest in 1908, Dandurand pushed a wheelbarrow loaded to 4300 Pounds for a distance of 23 feet. |
Labels: Arthur Dandurand, Bent Press, Canadian Strongman, Forearm Strength, Kennedy Lift, Military Press, Oldtime Strongman Feat, Reverse Curl, Wheelbarrow Lift
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All Contents, Including Images and Text, Copyright © 2010 by John Wood and Thunderdome Media Inc., Not to be reproduced without permission, All Rights Reserved
Friday, February 01, 2008
 Hector Decarie | Hector Decarie was another great Canadian strongman. He met Louis Cyr in a challenge match on February, 26th, 1906 at Sohmer Park, in Montreal. Cyr was 44 years old and in poor health, but at the end of the contest the results saw both men tied a 4 wins apeice (out of the 8 events.) Despite his showing, Cyr conceeded the title of "Strongest Man in the World" to Decarie right then and there. |
Labels: Canadian Strongman, Hector Decarie, Oldtime Strongman, Quebec, Quebec Strongman
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Thursday, January 31, 2008
Benoit CoteBenoit Cote was another great Canadian strongman from Quebec and the rival of fellow countryman Doug Hepburn.
The two met head to head at a four-lift (Press, Bench Press, Squat, Deadlift) contest in 1961. While Hepburn bested Cote in the bench press and overhead press, Cote beat Hepburn in the squat and deadlifted 752-1/2 pounds (shown above) to win.
Labels: Bench Press, Benoit Cote, Canadian Strongman, Deadlift, Doug Hepburn, Quebec Strongman, Squat
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Thursday, December 06, 2007
| Quebec Canada has been called "The Cradle of Strongmen" because it has been home to so many famous strongmen -- but none were stronger or more famous than Louis Cyr. You'll find this statue honoring Louis Cyr in Place des Hommes-Forts ("Strongmen's Square") in Montreal. |  The Louis Cyr Statue |
Labels: Canadian Strongman, Louis Cyr, Quebec, Statue
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Friday, November 09, 2007
Doug Hepburn was born in Vancouver B.C. on September 16th, 1927. He was of average height and build and took up weight lifting to bulk up.
Soon it became apparent that Doug wasn't so average after all --- he began to progress very quickly in his training.
Although he had a slight handicap (a club foot) that did not stop him from becoming one of the most powerful men in history. He became a Senior World Champion in 1953 and set eight World Records during his career.
Soon it became apparent that Doug wasn't so average after all --- he began to progress very quickly in his training.
Although he had a slight handicap (a club foot) that did not stop him from becoming one of the most powerful men in history. He became a Senior World Champion in 1953 and set eight World Records during his career.
| Here's a look at some of his best lifts: Right Hand Military Press - 175 Pounds Two Hands Press (Off Rack) - 440 Pounds Behind Neck Press - 350 Pounds Two Hands Curl - 260 Pounds Bench Press - 580 Pounds Jerk-Press (Off Rack) 500 Pounds Two Hands Snatch - 297-1/2 Pounds Two Hands Clean & Press - 381 Pounds Squat - 760 Pounds Two Hands Deadlift - 705 Pounds |  Doug Hepburn |
Labels: Bench Press, Canadian Strongman, Clean and Jerk, Curl, Deadlift, Doug Hepburn, Jerk, Military Press, Oldtime Strongman, Olympic Weightlifting, Overhead Press, Snatch, Squat, Strongman Feat
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All Contents, Including Images and Text, Copyright © 2010 by John Wood and Thunderdome Media Inc., Not to be reproduced without permission, All Rights Reserved
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