Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Paul Anderson: Bringin' Home the Gold in '56Here's a rare shot of the great Paul Anderson at the moment he won the gold medal at the 1956 Olympic Games in Melbourne, Australia. The Russians, who had seen Big Paul in action previously figured he would run away with it... But It was no cakewalk, Anderson had developed an inner ear infection during the trip over which gave him trouble with his balance and caused him to miss lifts he ordinarily would have made with ease. Like a true champion though he fought through it and prevailed to take the gold medal.
Labels: 1956 Olympics, Gold Medal, Olympic Games, Paul Anderson
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Friday, August 08, 2008
Launceston ElliottAlready 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.
Labels: 1896 Olympics, British Strongman, Clean and Jerk, Launceston Elliott, Olympic Games, Olympic Lifting, Olympics, Viggo Jensen, weightlifting
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Friday, August 01, 2008
John J. FlanaganThe great thrower John J. Flanagan in mid-turn as he prepares to throw the 56-pound weight in the 1904 Olympics.
Flanagan, 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 Games held in Antwerp, Belgium.
The 56-pound weight is, however, still contested in the Highland Games where it is thrown for distance and height.
Labels: 1904 Olympics, 56-Pound Weight, Discus, Hammer Throwing, John J. Flanagan, Olympic Event, Olympic Games
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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."
Labels: 1904 Olympics, Olympic Games, Olympic Sport, Olympics, St. Louis, Tug O War, Turnverein
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Charles RigoulotIn 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
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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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