Tuesday, February 02, 2010

  • Les Willoughby


  • Les Willoughby, the great light-heavyweight British weightlifter, is shown here about to perform the 2-dumbbell press, one of the seven best power building exercises.

    His best performance in this lift was a press of 230 pounds for two reps. He could also press 245 lbs., snatch 242-1/2 lbs. clean & jerk 330 pounds and just may have done some squatting in his day.

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    Tuesday, February 02, 2010

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    Monday, August 17, 2009

  • Young Steve Stanko


  • Steve Stanko is shown here snatching 260 pounds on his way to winning the 1938 Junior Nationals in Cleveland, Ohio. Just 20 years old at the time, it was clear that big things were in store for Steve Stanko... Five years later he became the first man to break the 1000-pound barrier in the three Olympic Lifts, eight years later he became Mr. America and eleven years later, the first Mr. Universe.

    John Davis looks on from the right. Just 17 years old Davis had just won the light-heavyweight class with an 810 lb total, showing more than a little promise himself...

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    Monday, August 17, 2009

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    Thursday, August 06, 2009

  • Henry "Milo" Steinborn


  • Henry "Milo" Steinborn was one of the first, and perhaps the first man to squat with 500 lbs. He was also able to one-hand snatch 220 lbs., one-hand clean & jerk 265 lbs., snatch 265 lbs. and perform a one-leg squat with a 192 lb. barbell held at his chest - all amazing numbers, even today.

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    Thursday, August 06, 2009

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    Sunday, July 12, 2009

  • Paul Anderson: Behind The Iron Curtain


  • In 1955, a group of U.S. weightlifting champs traveled to Russia - the first U.S. athletic team to be invited behind the Iron Curtain - for a series of exhibitions with the Soviet national team.

    After everyone else had finished their lifting, Paul Anderson astounded their hosts by pressing 402-1/2 lbs., snatching 314-1/4 lbs. and the lift shown here: a clean & jerk of 424-1/2 lbs. Big Paul so astounded the Russians that they did not even bother to enter a heavyweight lifter at the upcoming 1956 Olympics - they figured that he was simply unbeatable.

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    Sunday, July 12, 2009

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    Saturday, July 11, 2009

  • Francois Lancoud


  • The Swiss Weightlifter and Strongman Francois Lancoud became the second World Weightlifting Champion on October 5th, 1903, at an event held at the Moulin Rouge in Paris, France. Among his winning lifts were a snatch of 231-1/2 lbs. and a clean & jerk of 292 lbs. The German strongman Heinrich Schneidereit finished second and the Belgian lifter Gustave Empain finishing third.

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    Saturday, July 11, 2009

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  • Bringing Home the Gold: Melbourne, 1956


  • The date of this photo is November 26th, 1956 and it shows the results of the Men's Light-Heavyweight weightlifting event at the '56 Olympic Games held in Melbourne, Australia. On his way to the Gold Medal, Tommy Kono set Olympic records in the Press and Snatch and a World Record in the Clean & Jerk and overall total (447.5 kg).

    The other American lifter Jim George, from Akron, Ohio, won the Bronze with a 417.5 kg total. Vasīlijs Stepanovs of the Soviet Union took the Silver Medal with a 427.5 total.

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    Saturday, July 11, 2009

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    Monday, July 06, 2009

  • Eduard Danzer

  • At the 1908 World Weightlifting Championship, won by Josef Grafl, the second place winner was Eduard Danzer of old Vienna.

    Danzer lifted as follows:
  • Right-Hand snatch: 176 lbs.
  • Left-Hand snatch 149 lbs.
  • Two-Hands press: 231 lbs.
  • Two-Hands snatch: 209 lbs
  • Two-Hands jerk: 330 lbs.
  • Eduard DanzerEduard Danzer

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    Monday, July 06, 2009

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  • The Greatest Lift of All Time


  • On April 28th, 1962 Norb Schemansky accomplish this lift - a 362 lb. snatch - which was called 'The Greatest Lift of All Time'.

    Of note are the iron weights. Norb often says that Olympic weightlifters were stronger back in his day even if they are lifting heavier weights today. The reason was that back then, with iron weights, lifters had to control the heavy weights they lifted overhead back to the rack position at the chest and then back to the floor. This made the handling of heavier weights that much easier. Today, with bumper plates, lifters simply drop their lifts from the top position, thus robbing themselves of much of the benefits (and strength gains). Certainly something to think about...

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    Monday, July 06, 2009

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    Wednesday, April 29, 2009

  • The Two-Arm Snatch


  • The Two-Arm Snatch as demonstrated by Johnny Terpak. At the time that this sequence of photos was taken Terpak was the holder of the middleweight and light heavyweight American records, having snatched 260 lbs. at a bodyweight of only 160 lbs. Terpak was an eleven-time Senior National Weightlifting champion, a record in itself.

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    Wednesday, April 29, 2009

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    Sunday, April 05, 2009

  • Milo Steinborn


  • On October 19th, 1921, at Hermann's Gym in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Alan Calvert, George Zottman and others witnessed Henry "Milo" Steinborn perform the following lifts:

  • Right Hand Snatch: 205-1/2 pounds
  • Two Hands Snatch: 247 pounds
  • Two Hands Clean and Jerk: 347-3/4 pounds


  • He concluded these lifts with six full squats with 402 pounds... even more impressive from the standpoint that he loaded and unloaded the barbell onto his shoulders unassisted!

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    Sunday, April 05, 2009

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    Tuesday, March 17, 2009

  • Noel Le Gaulois


  • The French strongman Noel Le Gaulois was the man to beat at certain lifts in the late 19th century. At the Brussels exhibition of 1897, he performed a two-arm snatch with 220 pounds, a 253-pound two-arm jerk and a 143-pound one-arm snatch... All lifts which would still be respectable a century later.

    He could also lift a full wine barrel. Like many strongmen of the period, he was also a very good wrestler. Later on, Le Gaulois owned a café/gymnasium which was the gathering place for the famous strongmen of the day.

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    Tuesday, March 17, 2009

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    Sunday, January 04, 2009

  • Rigoulot's Barbell


  • One of the most famous barbells in history is the special weight that Charles Rigoulot made his 314-pound snatch and 402-pound clean-and-jerk. Andy Jackson, manufacturer of the famous Jackson Olympic-type Barbells, is here shown with a copy of the famous Rigoulot barbell made up for the strongman 'Sailor' Jim White. The bar is 9' in length, the revolving globes are 18-inches in diameter.

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    Sunday, January 04, 2009

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    Saturday, August 23, 2008

  • 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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    Saturday, August 23, 2008

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    Sunday, August 10, 2008

  • 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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    Sunday, August 10, 2008

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    Friday, August 01, 2008

  • 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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    Friday, August 01, 2008

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    Monday, May 12, 2008

  • Dave Sheppard Training at The York Gym

  • Dave Sheppard Training at The York GymDave Sheppard Training at The York Gym

    One of the greatest gyms of all time was the old York gym on Broad street. An untold number of champions trained there, among them Dave Sheppard, shown here practicing his high pulls with 360 pounds.

    Sheppard used a wide grip, as if snatching, and pulled the weight high enough to touch his chest lightly on each rep. This was one of the key exercises that allowed him to snatch 316-1/2 pounds at a bodyweight of 190 pounds.

    John Davis looks on as he waits his turn to lift.

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    Monday, May 12, 2008

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    Thursday, February 14, 2008

  • Chuck Vinci

  • Chuck VinciChuck Vinci

    Chuck Vinci was another great olympic weightlifter from York, Pennsylvania. Though he stood only 4'11" and weighed 123 pounds, he could clean & jerk well over 300 pounds and snatch 220+.

    Vinci was a Two-time Olympic Gold Medalist (1956 and 1960), Seven-time world Senior National Champion (1954-1956,1958-1961) and set Twelve World Records during his career.

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    Thursday, February 14, 2008

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    Thursday, January 24, 2008

  • Paul Anderson Winning the 1956 Melbourne Olympics

  • Paul Anderson Winning the 1956 Melbourne OlympicsPaul Anderson Winning the 1956 Melbourne Olympics

    With this lift, Paul Anderson won the Gold Medal in the heavyweight class at the 1956Olympic Games held in Melbourne, Australia.

    It sure didn't come easy...

    Big Paul was suffering from an ear infection at the time which caused him to lose his balance and stagger once he had the weight overhead, thus missing several lifts he would normally make with ease.

    Here's how he ended the day:

  • Press - 369 pounds
  • Snatch - 319 pounds
  • Clean and Jerk - 413 pounds


  • Though he totaled, 1101 pounds, it was far from his best. Still, it was a gold medal winning performance, and one that cemented his name in the history books.

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    Thursday, January 24, 2008

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    Sunday, December 02, 2007

  • Osmo Kiiha

  • In addition to publishing "THE IRON MASTER" John "Osmo" Kiiha is a former World-Class Olympic Lifter who competed in the 1968 Senior Nationals in the 198 pound class.

    His bests lifts were: Total: 985, Press: 333, Clean & Jerk: 418, Snatch: 286.

    Here he is getting ready to incline press a pair of 150 pound dumbbells.
    Osmo KiihaOsmo Kiiha
    Also, check out Osmo's IRON MASTER dumbbells here.

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    Sunday, December 02, 2007

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    Friday, November 09, 2007

  • Weightlifting Champion John Davis

  • Weightlifting Champion
    John Davis
    John Davis was one of America's greatest Olympic weightlifting champions.

    Throughout his career he won two gold medals: 1948(London) and 1952(Helsinki)

    He was also a Senior World Champion in 1938, 1946, 1947, 1949, 1950, and 1951.

    His best Olympic lifts were:

  • Press - 342 Pounds
  • Snatch - 330-1/2 Pounds
  • Clean & Jerk - 402 Pounds
  • He also excelled in a number of other lifts, deadlifting 705 pounds, squatting 525 pounds eight times in succession, curling 215 pounds, chin himself with either arm multiple times, a right-hand lift of 8 pounds on a Weaver Stick in the Forward Lift style and one of the few men in history to Clean and Jerk the Apollon Wheels

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    Friday, November 09, 2007

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  • Doug Hepburn

  • 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.


    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 HepburnDoug Hepburn

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    Friday, November 09, 2007

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    Monday, October 29, 2007

  • Abbye "Pudgy" Stockton

  • Pudgy StocktonIf there ever were a "bar belle" it was Abbye "Pudgy" Stockton. (She aquired the nickname "Pudgy" as a child and it stuck.)

    "Pudgy" weighed 115 pounds at a height of 5'2" and, as you can see, was quite the physical specimen -- especially impressive at a time when weightlifting for either gender was frowned upon.

    She and husband Les Stockton were well known at the first "Muscle Beach" at Santa Monica, California where they primarily worked on acrobatics and gymnastic feats
    for the crowds.
    Aside from being a frequent contributor to Strength and Health Magazine, Pudgy also helped organize the very first weight lifting contect for women through the AAU. In that contest, Stockton pressed 100 pounds, snatched 105 pounds, and clean and jerked 135 pounds.

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    Monday, October 29, 2007

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    Sunday, September 30, 2007

  • Schemansky Stalks the Bar...


  • From the late 1940s to mid-1960s, Norb Schemansky was America's most successful Olympic Weightlifter and the first weightlifter to medal in four Olympic Games, (despite missing the 1956 games.)

    Do you think he means business in the shot above?

    Here's a look at Norb Schemansky's achievements over the course of his career:
  • Olympic Champion - 1952 Olympic Games, Helsinki
  • Silver Medal - 1948 Olympic Games, London
  • Bronze Medal - 1960, Rome, 1964, Tokyo
  • World Champion (1951, 1953, and 1954)
  • 1955 Pan American Games Heavyweight Champion
  • Silver Medal - Senior World Championships (1947, 1962, 1963)
  • Bronze Medal - Senior World Championships (1964)
  • And best career marks:

    Press - 415 lbs.
    Snatch - 363 3/4 lbs.
    Clean and Jerk - 445 lbs.
    Total - 1200 lbs. (400-335-445)

    In addition to his weightlifting exploits, he also famously cleaned, then thrice jerked the Apollon Wheels.

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    Sunday, September 30, 2007

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    Friday, September 28, 2007

  • Oldtime Dumbbell Training With John Grimek

  • Oldtime Dumbbell Training With John GrimekOldtime Dumbbell Training With John Grimek

    Here's a nice little dumbbell workout by John Grimek:

    1. Two Hands Snatch w/dumbbells
    2. Upright Rowing Motion
    3. Side Bends
    4. Shoulder Shrug
    5. Lateral Raise
    6. Dumbbell Swing

    Grimek was using a pair of adjustable York Dumbbells but feel free to use a solid pair if that's what you have. You can find out more about some of the ways that Grimek trained in The Mark Berry Bar-Bell Courses

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    Friday, September 28, 2007

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    Saturday, September 22, 2007

  • Karl Swoboda: Austrian Strongman

  • Karl SwobodaKarl Swoboda

    An Austrian by birth, Karl Swoboda was one of the early strength "Giants" -- literally. Swoboda eventually reached a bodyweight of over 400 lbs. He owned his own restaurant and did plenty of lifting back in the "bier garden."

    Of course, his tremendous strength also matched his great bodyweight. Here's a look at some of his best marks:

  • Two Arm Jerk: 441 pounds

  • Two Arm Continental Press: 359-1/2 pounds

  • Right Arm Military Press: 154-1/4 pounds

  • Two Arm Continental Press w/Dumbbells: 286 pounds

  • Left Hand Snatch: 158-1/2 pounds

  • Right Hand Snatch: 169-3/4 pounds


  • You can read more about Karl Swoboda in Physical Training Simplified by Mark Berry and The Truth Abut Weight Lifting by Alan Calvert

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    Saturday, September 22, 2007

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