Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Jean Francois LeBreton was the lightweight lifting champion of France in the early 1900's. One of his greatest lifts was a one-arm dumbbell swing of 200 pounds which was made at a bodyweight of 200 pounds. -- An achievement which puts him among the strongest of all time in this lift.
Labels: Dumbbell Swing, French Strongman, French Weightlifter, Jean Francois LeBreton, One Arm Swing
All Contents, Including Images and Text, Copyright © 2010 by John Wood and Thunderdome Media Inc., Not to be reproduced without permission, All Rights Reserved
Wednesday, January 06, 2010
The great French lifter Alexandre' Maspoli was born in Lyons in 1875 and was an amateur champion an astounding 19 years in a row (1901 to 1920). He won a Bronze Medal at the 1906 Olympic Games. He also competed in the long jump in the 1906 games but did not place. Maspoli's greatest lifts include a right hand snatch of 207-1/2 pounds, a two-dumbbell clean and press of 231-3/4 pounds, and a two-dumbbell jerk of 298 pounds. Maspoli was also a successful sculptor.
Labels: 1906 Olympics, Alexandre Maspoli, Bronze Medal, Dumbbell, Dumbbell Jerk, French Weightlifter, one arm snatch
All Contents, Including Images and Text, Copyright © 2010 by John Wood and Thunderdome Media Inc., Not to be reproduced without permission, All Rights Reserved
Monday, December 14, 2009
Shown here is the French weightlifter Louis Hostin, who won the Gold Medal at the 1932 Olympic Games in Los Angeles and the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin. Hostin also won the Silver medal at the 1928 Olympic Games in Amsterdam (where the above photo was taken).
Labels: 1928 Olympics, 1932 Olympics, 1936 Olympics, Berg-Hantell, French Weightlifter, Gold Medal, Louis Hostin, olympic weightlifter
All Contents, Including Images and Text, Copyright © 2010 by John Wood and Thunderdome Media Inc., Not to be reproduced without permission, All Rights Reserved
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
History's greatest performer of the One-Arm Snatch was the French weightlifter Charles Rigoulot. His lift of 261 pounds will likely never be surpassed. Here, Rigoulot prepares to one-arm snatch only 220 pounds as an amateur.,
Labels: Charles Rigoulot, French Weightlifter, Globe Barbell, one arm snatch
All Contents, Including Images and Text, Copyright © 2010 by John Wood and Thunderdome Media Inc., Not to be reproduced without permission, All Rights Reserved
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Another classic shot of the great French Weightlifter Ernest Cadine doing his thing with some classic iron. That looks like one hell of a fine place to train.
Labels: Classic Equipment, Classic Strongman Gyms, Ernest Cadine, French Strongman, French Weightlifter, Globe Barbell, Globe Dumbbell
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, July 03, 2009
The great French Strongman Charles Rigoulot is shown here in a rare shot about to perform a one-arm dumbbell swing with 194 pounds.
Labels: Charles Rigoulot, Dumbbell Swing, French Strongman, French Weightlifter, Globe Dumbbell
All Contents, Including Images and Text, Copyright © 2010 by John Wood and Thunderdome Media Inc., Not to be reproduced without permission, All Rights Reserved
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
In this classic photo it's not hard to see why the great French weightlifter Ernest Cadine was so formidable. He got this 150 pound dumbbell overhead by way of the "swing". This picture was probably taken at Le Gaulois' place.
Labels: Cannon, Dumbbell Swing, Ernest Cadine, French Strongman, French Weightlifter, Globe Barbell, Globe Dumbbell, Noel Le Gaulois, Oldtime Strength Equipment, Swing
All Contents, Including Images and Text, Copyright © 2010 by John Wood and Thunderdome Media Inc., Not to be reproduced without permission, All Rights Reserved
Thursday, December 18, 2008
| Another great shot of the champion French Weight lifter Ernest Cadine at the conclusion of a heavy one-arm snatch. Even though the quality of this old picture is not perfect, Cadine's incredible muscle density is evident. It's not hard to see why he won the gold medal at the 1920 Olympic Games, likely around the same time this picture was taken. Note the cannon on the wall behind him. Yes, it was used specifically for lifting purposes. | Ernest Cadine |
Labels: 1920 Olympics, Cannon, Ernest Cadine, French Strongman, French Weightlifter, Globe Barbell, Gold Medal, one arm snatch
All Contents, Including Images and Text, Copyright © 2010 by John Wood and Thunderdome Media Inc., Not to be reproduced without permission, All Rights Reserved
Wednesday, December 03, 2008
An extremely rare shot of the great French Weightlifter Ernest Cadine deadlifting a classic globe barbell. Is this the same globe barbell that Tommy Kono lifted here? It's certainly possible.
Labels: Deadlift, Ernest Cadine, French Strongman, French Weightlifter, Globe Barbell, Globe Dumbbells, Tommy Kono
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, August 01, 2008
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.
Labels: 1924 Olympics, Charles Rigoulot, Clean and Jerk, French Strongman, French Weightlifter, Gold Medal, Olympic Games, one arm snatch, Paris France, Press, Total
All Contents, Including Images and Text, Copyright © 2010 by John Wood and Thunderdome Media Inc., Not to be reproduced without permission, All Rights Reserved
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Ernest Cadine was a French Weightlifter who won the Gold Medal at the 1920 Olympic Games held in Antwerp, Belgium. He set six World records over his competitive career.
In 1925, Cadine performed a one-arm swing with 90 kilos which was actually greater than his own bodyweight. He could also right hand snatch 211 pounds and one-hand deadlifted the famous Apollon Wheels.
Labels: 1920 Olympics, Apollon's Wheels, Ernest Cadine, French Strongman, French Weightlifter, Gold Medal, Olympics
All Contents, Including Images and Text, Copyright © 2010 by John Wood and Thunderdome Media Inc., Not to be reproduced without permission, All Rights Reserved
Welcome to the Strongest Blog on the Net!
This is THE PLACE where you will find interesting bits of Iron Game history, lore and training tips from the strongest men of all time.

Jean Francois LeBreton
Alexandre' Maspoli
Louis Hostin
Charles Rigoulot: One-Arm Snatch
Ernest Cadine
Charles Rigoulot
Ernest Cadine ~ Dumbbell Swing
Ernest Cadine
Ernest Cadine Lifts Some Classic Iron
Charles Rigoulot
Ernest Cadine