Sunday, February 07, 2010
John Robinson's $25,000 Challenge FeatureIt was during the season of 1898 that Louis Cyr traveled and performed with The John Robinson Circus. According to records, Cyr's measurements at the time were as follows:
John Robinson's challenge was whether any man could equal or better any one of Cyr's feats... needless to say, the money was very safe.Width across shoulders: 27 inches Neck: 23 inches Forearm: 19 inches Bicep: 21.5 inches Waist: 52 inches Thigh: 29-3/4 inches Calf: 24 inches Chest: 59.5 inches
Labels: Challenge Match, Circus Poster, Circus Strongman, John Robinson Circus, Louis Cyr, Performing Strongman
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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
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, September 24, 2009
Young Louis CyrA look at a young Louis Cyr taking a huge Globe Dumbbell for a ride. This rare engraving is from a Quebec newspaper from the late 1800s.
Labels: Globe Dumbbell, Louis Cyr, Quebec Strongman
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Thursday, August 06, 2009
"535 lbs."In Chicago, Illinois on May 7th, 1896, Louis Cyr lifted 535 lbs. clear of the floor with one finger.
Labels: Finger Strength, Louis Cyr, One Finger Lift, Strength Feat
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Friday, July 24, 2009
Louis Cyr: Barrel LiftingOn May 8th, 1896, the great Canadian strongman Louis Cyr lifted and shouldered a 433 lb. barrel with one hand. The barrel was filled with a mixture of water and sand and the feat took place at Saint-Louis Hall in Chicago, Illinois.
Labels: Barrel Lifting, Louis Cyr, Strength Feat, Wooden Barrel
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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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Friday, November 28, 2008
Louis Cyr's WeightsA rare picture of some of Louis Cyr's weights. Note the Ring Weight in the foreground and the fact that most of these classic weights have thick handles. You can tell a lot of strength was built with these weights.
Labels: Dumbbell, Globe Barbell, Globe Dumbbells, Louis Cyr, Ring Weights, Thick Handle
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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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Friday, May 09, 2008
Louis Cyr's BackliftA rare woodcut of the great Louis Cyr's famous backlift. Cyr astonished the world with a lift of 4337 pounds!
Labels: Backlift, Feat, Heavy Partial Movements, Louis Cyr, Oldtime Strongman Feat, Supporting Feat
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Thursday, May 01, 2008
The Brothers McCannThe Brothers McCann, Henry and Louis, were known as Hercules and Samson when they became professional strongmen in the late 1800s. In 1890, they challenged Eugen Sandow to a match - and Won!
... although they were defeated by Louis Cyr in a similar contest a few years later.
Labels: Amazing Samson, Challenge Match, Eugen Sandow, Hercules, Louis Cyr, Oldtime Strongman Feat, Oldtime Strongmen, The Brothers McCann
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Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Louis Cyr vs. Hector Decarie: 102 Years Ago TodayIt was 102 years ago today that Louis Cyr met Hector Decarie in their famous challenge match.
At the end of the night each man had won four events apeice but despite the "tie" Cyr passed on the mantle of "World's Strongest Man" to his young challenger.
Labels: Challenge Match, Hector Decarie, Louis Cyr, Oldtime Strongman Exercises, Oldtime Strongmen
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Saturday, February 16, 2008
| It was said that the great Louis Cyr could pretty much lift whatever he wanted -- this photograph, however, was obviously staged. On May 7, 1896 Louis Cyr is credited with several impresive lifts, and among them was a one-hand Jerk of 254 lbs. Of course, lifting rocks is an altogether different animal. |  Louis Cyr |
Labels: Feat, Louis Cyr, Odd Object Lifting, Overhead Press, Rock Lifting
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Tuesday, January 29, 2008
| John Grimek had his eye on lifting the Louis Cyr Challenge Dumbbell for a long time. Needless to say the ponderous weight defied his attempts to lift it, just as it had for the better part of nearly a century. Finally, Grimek succeeded in bent-pressing the thick-handled dumbbell overhead and added his name to a very short list. You can currently see the Cyr Challenge dumbbell at the York Barbell Hall of Fame in York Pennslyvania. |  John Grimek Bent-Presses the Louis Cyr Challenge Dumbbell |
Labels: Bent Press, Challenge Weight, Globe Dumbbell, John Grimek, Louis Cyr, Louis Cyr Challenge Dumbbell, Shot Loaded, Strongman Equipment, Thick Handle, York Barbell Hall of Fame
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Monday, January 14, 2008
Louis Cyr Strikes a Classic PoseThis picture was taken in the late 1800's, a time when the subject of a photograph had to stand still for long periods of time -- which means the globe dumbbell that Louis Cyr is holding aloft here is likely just a prop.
Cyr did, however, did possess the ability to move such huge weights.
He once jerked a 132 pound dumbbell for 36 reps and his bent press of 273 pounds beat Eugen Sandow's mark. Also note the rather impressive Ring Weight.
Labels: Dumbbell Press, Globe Dumbbell, Louis Cyr, Oldtime Strongman Feat, Overhead Press, Ring Weights, Strongman Equipment
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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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Tuesday, November 06, 2007
John Grimek Vs. The Cyr Challenge DumbbellHere's another look at the Louis Cyr Challenge Dumbbell. From what I understand John Grimek never turned down a challenge. Eventually he was able to add his name to the very short list of men who could get the Cyr Dumbbell Overhead.
Labels: Challenge Weight, Globe Dumbbell, John Grimek, Louis Cyr, Louis Cyr Challenge Dumbbell
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Sunday, November 04, 2007
The Richard K. Fox Heavyweight Strongman Championship Belt Warren Lincoln Travis, wearing his Championship Belt | Richard K. Fox was the publisher of "The Police Gazette" a 19th century magazine which reported on boxing, wrestling and feats of strength that might interest the public. It was Richard K. Fox who introduced the idea of the "Championship Belt" to the United States -- bestowing "The Police Gazette" championship belt to Jake Kilrain (and won shortly afterwards by John L. Sullivan in a greuling 75-round bare knuckle match.) The idea was simple -- whomever wanted the belt had to win it in a challenge match. Richard K. Fox also created a similar belt for the "Heavyweight Strongman Champion" of the world, with the first "title holder" being Louis Cyr whom Fox had managed on several tours of England. |
The Richard K. Fox Heavyweight Strongman Championship Belt now resides at the York Barbell Company Hall of Fame in York, Pennsylvania.
Labels: Boxing, Challenge Weight, Feat, Louis Cyr, The Police Gazette, Warren Lincoln Travis, York Barbell Hall of Fame
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Friday, November 02, 2007
The Louis Cyr Challenge DumbbellThis incredible dumbbell belonged to the famous Quebec strongman Louis Cyr who used it in his act as a challenge for anyone to lift it.
Due to the 1-5/8 inch thick handle the bell is difficult to lift but it was specially designed for Cyr who had a very strong grip. It weighed 202 pounds empty and at its heaviest, packed with metal pellets, Cyr's Dumbbell weighed 273 pounds. Cyr handled it easily using the overhead "side press" style.
To this day only a handful of men have been successful in lifting it overhead with one arm.
Among them John Grimek, Sig Klein, and Wally Zagurski as shown above using the bent press style (Yes, that's the exact dumbbell above being lifted by those individuals at different points in time.) The Cyr Dumbbell currently resides in the York Barbell Company Hall of Fame in York, Pennsylvania.
Labels: Bent Press, Challenge Weight, Dumbbell, Globe Dumbbells, John Grimek, Louis Cyr, Side Press, Strongman Equipment, Strongman Feat, Thick Bar, Wally Zagurski, York Barbell Hall of Fame
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Saturday, September 29, 2007
Louis Cyr and Horace Barre' - John Robinson's $25,000 Challenge Feature During the 1898 Circus Season, Canadian Strongman Louis Cyr and his assstant/protege' Horace Barre performed their unique feats of strength all around the country in the John Robinson Circus.
As they criss-crossed the map, John Robinson put up $25,000 for any person who could duplicate any one of either of their feats.
Their performance included the back lift, Cyr's Barrel Lifting Feat, supporting feats, and lifting other heavy dumbbells or blockweights of various sizes and shapes.
Adjusting for inflation, that would be nearly $600,000 today, and, ironically enough, their money would still be safe...
Labels: Backlift, Barrel Lifting, Circus, Horace Barre, Louis Cyr, Oldtime Strongman, Strongman Equipment, Strongman Feat, Supporting Feat
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Thursday, September 13, 2007
Henry Holtgrewe: The Cincinnati StrongmanHenry Holtgrewe was born in Hanover, Germany in 1872 but came to live in the United States at an early age. He settled in Cincinnati, where he ran a saloon near old Chester Park in Northside.
In his spare time he delighted in performing feats of strength, especially lifting barbells and dumbbells with thick handles -- which not only confounded smaller-handed competition, but also allowed Henry Holtgrewe to build a tremendous 15-1/2 inch forearm in the process.
Holtgrewe also out "pressed" the great Louis Cyr with a single-arm lift of 287 pounds. It was said that each time Eugen Sandow performed in Cincinnati Holtgrewe challenged to a lifting contest -- and each time Sandow refused.
In 1904 Holtgrewe backlifted two opposing baseball teams at Redlands Field in Cincinnati. The combined weight was estimated at 4103 pounds easily placing him among the strongest backlifters of all time.
Labels: Backlift, Dumbbell, Eugen Sandow, Henry Holtgrewe, Louis Cyr, Oldtime Strongman, Strongman Feat
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Saturday, August 25, 2007
 Louis Cyr's Barrel Lift | As reported in David Willougthby's Super Athletes book, Louis Cyr could lift a heavy barrel to his shoulder with only one hand by grabbing the chines, tilting it on to his leg and maneuvering it up his body. Needless to say, lifting a barrel like this takes quite a bit of brute strength. Cyr's best barrel lift was a barrel filled with a combination of sand and water and weighed in at just under 450 pounds! |
Labels: Barrel Lifting, Louis Cyr, Strongman, Strongman Equipment, Strongman Feat
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Saturday, August 18, 2007
One of the great traditional "feats" of Old Time Strength is the Human Link.
There's no telling who came up with it first but what we do know is that Strongmen have been perfomring this feat for well over a century -- and because it is very dangerous, always goes over great with the crowd.
Many of the great ones such as Louis Cyr, Warren Lincoln Travis, George Levasseur, Apollon and many others included the "Human Link" feat in their shows.
Here's a look at a few famous performances:
The Great Canadian Strongman Louis Cyr
holds back two draft horses circa 1896
George Levasseur upped that ante with four hourses
as he performed this feat in the Circus
Dennis Rogers, The Pound-For-Pound World's Strongest Man for the feats he performs takes the "Human Link" feat to a whole new level as seen in his great video 336 Pounds of Fury -- That's a Harley Davidson Motorcycle at full blast on both sides!
There's no telling who came up with it first but what we do know is that Strongmen have been perfomring this feat for well over a century -- and because it is very dangerous, always goes over great with the crowd.
Many of the great ones such as Louis Cyr, Warren Lincoln Travis, George Levasseur, Apollon and many others included the "Human Link" feat in their shows.
Here's a look at a few famous performances:
The Great Canadian Strongman Louis Cyr holds back two draft horses circa 1896
George Levasseur upped that ante with four hourses
as he performed this feat in the Circus
Dennis Rogers, The Pound-For-Pound World's Strongest Man for the feats he performs takes the "Human Link" feat to a whole new level as seen in his great video 336 Pounds of Fury -- That's a Harley Davidson Motorcycle at full blast on both sides!
Labels: Dennis Rogers, GeorgeLevasseur, Human Link, Louis Cyr, Strongman Feat, Supporting 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
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Joseph Steinbach Austrian Strongman
Joseph Steinbach of Vienna, Austria, officially performed a Two Hands Continental Jerk of 387 pounds, a Two Hands Snatch of 264 3/4 pounds and a Two Hands Continental and Press of 335 pounds (besting Louis Cyr's mark by 34 pounds.)
At the same time, he held the world's records on lifts performed with two dumb bells, won the gold medal in the "One Arm" event and a Silver in the "Two Arm" event at the 1906 Olympics.
You can read more about him in Physical Training Simplified by Mark H. Berry or The Truth About Weight Lifting By Alan Calvert
Labels: 1906 Olympics, Austrian Strongman, Continental, Joseph Steinbach, Louis Cyr, Strongman, Strongman Feat, weightlifting
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Monday, July 02, 2007
It was on this date back in 1891 that Louis Cyr defeated Sebastian Miller in a back lifting contest 3192 pounds to 2400 pounds.
If you've spent any time on the site so far you are pretty well acquainted with Louis Cyr but you probably aren't as familiar with Sebastian Miller.
Heres a bit about him from the Cambridge (Ohio) Jeffersonian newspaper dated January 3, 1899:
-- Strongman Breaks Cobblestones With His Hands --
Sebastian Miller
"A strongman has turned up on Philadelphia. He calls himself Sebastian Miller and a distinguished gathering of physicians and Professors witnessed some of his feats of strength in the Pennsylvania hospital a day ago.
Miller stripped to the waist in order that the physicians might see the workings of his gigantic muscles, and he stepped to a light pine table on which were placed several cobblestones.
A large stone was held in place and Miller, giving three powerful swings with his right arm, brought his fist down on the stone.
The first blow cracked it, the second broke it, and the third shattered it into bits.
In doing this, Miller wrapped a piece of cloth around his hand to protect it from being cut.
But Miller's strength is not all in his arms. With a harness he has raised 3500 pounds and with his hands he can lift 1800 pounds. With three successive blows of his fist he has broken a block of Quincy granite 5 feet long, 4 feet broad and 6 inches thick."
If you've spent any time on the site so far you are pretty well acquainted with Louis Cyr but you probably aren't as familiar with Sebastian Miller.
Heres a bit about him from the Cambridge (Ohio) Jeffersonian newspaper dated January 3, 1899:
Sebastian Miller"A strongman has turned up on Philadelphia. He calls himself Sebastian Miller and a distinguished gathering of physicians and Professors witnessed some of his feats of strength in the Pennsylvania hospital a day ago.
Miller stripped to the waist in order that the physicians might see the workings of his gigantic muscles, and he stepped to a light pine table on which were placed several cobblestones.
A large stone was held in place and Miller, giving three powerful swings with his right arm, brought his fist down on the stone.
The first blow cracked it, the second broke it, and the third shattered it into bits.
In doing this, Miller wrapped a piece of cloth around his hand to protect it from being cut.
But Miller's strength is not all in his arms. With a harness he has raised 3500 pounds and with his hands he can lift 1800 pounds. With three successive blows of his fist he has broken a block of Quincy granite 5 feet long, 4 feet broad and 6 inches thick."
Labels: Backlift, Harness Lift, Louis Cyr, Oldtime Strongman Feat, Sebastian Miller
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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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