Tuesday, August 18, 2009
The 1938 World Weightlifting TeamThe 1938 World Weightlifting team that lifted in Vienna, Austria. From left to right: Steve Stanko, John Davis, John Terry, Tony Terlazzo, John Terpak and John Grimek. Davis and Terlazzo won their respective classes with the others placing second to fourth.
Labels: 1938 World Weightlifting Team, John Davis, John Grimek, John Terpak, John Terry, Olympic Weightlifting, Steve Stanko, Tony Terlazzo, York Lifters
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Monday, August 17, 2009
Young Steve StankoSteve 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...
Labels: 1000 Pound Barrier, 1944 Mr. America, 1947 Mr. Universe, John Davis, Junior Nationals, Mr. Universe, Olympic Weightlifting, Snatch, Steve Stanko
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Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Louis AbeleLouis Abele, lifting out of the Lighthouse Boy's Club in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was a three-time Sr. National Silver medalist and briefly held the American Record in the press. He would also have lifted at the 1940 Olympic games although unfortunately they were canceled. Had he been born a few years earlier Abele would probably be a lot more well-known since he was in his prime right around the same time as Steve Stanko and later John Davis.
Abele was adamant about the incredible strength benefits of heavy, high-rep squatting (something which is pretty evident in the picture.) His best marks were: 400 lbs. x 18, 450 lbs. x 10, 475 lbs. x 7 and 500 lbs. x 3.
Labels: John Davis, Leg Strength, Louis Abele, olympic weightlifter, Press, Squat, Squatting, Steve Stanko
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Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Giving Bob Hoffman a LiftSometimes Bob Hoffman had to call up the York Gang when he needed a lift... That's Steve Stanko on the right and Stan Stanczyk on the left.
Labels: Bob Hoffman, Car Lift, Odd Object, Odd Object Lifting, Stan Stanczyk, Steve Stanko
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Tuesday, April 07, 2009
Clash of the Titans: Grimek vs. StankoWhat would happen if two of the greatest strength athletes in history went head to head? Whether bodybuilding, olympic lifting or unusual feats of strength, I would say the matchup between John Grimek and Steve Stanko is pretty evenly matched. Only history knows the outcome of this armwrestling match...
Labels: Arm Wrestling, John Grimek, Mr. America, Mr. Universe, Steve Stanko
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Wednesday, March 25, 2009
IsometricsIsometrics were all the rage back in the 50's and 60's. Here weightlifting and bodybuilding champion Steve Stanko gets in a quick bicep workout using the Isometric Power Rack -- looks like it's working pretty well.
Isometrics are not one of my favorite training techniques but plenty of modern day strongmen (such as Steve Justa and Dennis Rogers) use them with great success.
(Note: We do NOT have Isometric Power Racks for sale or know where you can find one.)
Labels: Arm Exercise, Dennis Rogers, Isometric Power Rack, Isometric Training, Isometrics, Power Rack, Steve Justa, Steve Stanko, York Barbell Club t-shirt, York Barbell Company, York Power Rack
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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 13, 2009
A Meeting of The LegendsWhen you trained at York Barbell, you never knew who might stop by for a visit. On this particular day, 2x Gold Medal Winner and 4x Mr. Universe winner Tommy Kono, Mr. America, Mr. Universe and first man to crack the 1000 pound barrier Steve Stanko, "Mr. Weightlifting" Norb Schemansky and The Mighty Atom, Joe Greenstein got together for a session. That's a lot of history in one place at one time!
Labels: 1940 Mr. America Contest, Mr. Universe, Mr. Weightlifting, Norb Schemansky, Steve Stanko, The MIghty Atom, Tommy Kono, York Barbell Club
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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
Sunday, January 04, 2009
| Results: 1. Steve Stanko 2. John Farbotnik 3. Eric Pedersen 4. George Eiferman 4. René Leger - Jules Bacon - Keevil Daly - Joe Lauriano - Juhani Vellamo |  Steve Stanko was the winner of the 1947 Mr. Universe Contest (The first ever held) |
Labels: Bodybuilder, Bodybuilding Contest, Bodybuilding Magazine, Cover, George Eiferman, John Farbotnik, Jules Bacon, Mr. Universe, Steve Stanko, Strength and Health Magazine
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Wednesday, December 31, 2008
September, 1944 Strength and Health Magazine: Steve StankoThe great Steve Stanko on the cover of the September, 1944 issue of Strength and Health Magazine. Steve was equal parts champion weightlifter (1st man to break the 1000 pound barrier in the 3 Olympic lifts) and bodybuilder (1944 AAU Mr. America and first Mr. Universe ever in 1947. Steve Stanko is featured prominantly in Brooks Kubik's new book Legacy of Iron.
Labels: 1000 Pound Barrier, 1944 Mr. America, Bodybuilding, Cover, Legacy of Iron, Mr. Universe, Steve Stanko, Strength and Health Magazine
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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, December 03, 2008
Steve Stanko Cable CurlsSteve Stanko, 1944 AAU Mr. America, often used cables for training his arms. In this shot Steve appears to be using the "flat band"-type of York Chest Expander and I'd say it's doing the job pretty well.
Labels: 1944 Mr. America, Bicep Exercise, Chest Expander, Curl, Steve Stanko
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Wednesday, October 29, 2008
 Steve Stanko - Hand Grippers | Steve Stanko was strong everywhere, he would have to be to become the first man to break the 1000 pound barrier in Olympic weightlifting. He was no slouch in the grip strength department either, having easily performed feats like this and yes, he trained with hand grippers too. Wonder what he could have done on the #3? |
Labels: 1000 Pound Barrier, Hand Grippers, Olympic Weightlifting, Steve Stanko
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Monday, October 27, 2008
| The Jefferson lift, also known as the straddle lift or straddle deadlift, was a favorite leg exercise of many of the York lifters. It certainly worked for Steve Stanko who won the 1944 AAU Mr. America contest and was the first man to break the 1000 pound barrier in Olympic Weightlifting. If you train on this lift, make sure to do a set in each direction. |  The Jefferson Lift |
Labels: Jefferson Lift, Leg Exercise, Steve Stanko, Straddle Deadlift, Straddle Lift, York, York Barbell
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Monday, May 12, 2008
Steve Stanko Cleans 370 PoundsThe Mighty Steve Stanko showing the form that allowed him to become the first man to officially total over 1000 pounds in the three Olympic Lifts and the first American to snatch 300 pounds.
The shot was taken during a workout in 1940. A year later Stanko went on to break the 1000 pound barrier. (His bodyweight at the time was only 220 pounds.)
Labels: 100 Pound Total, 300 Pounds Snatch, Clean, Olympic Weightlifting, Steve Stanko
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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
Sunday, May 04, 2008
Steve Stanko and The Hub LiftOne of the classic classic grip feats was to pick up a York Deep-Dish 45 Pound barbell plate just by the hub, something weightlifting and bodybuilding champ Steve Stanko could do with ease, even with an added 10 pounds. Steve's best was with over 90 pounds!
Labels: 45 Pound Plate, Bending Feat, Finger Strength, Grip Feat, Hub Lift, Steve Stanko, York Barbell, York Deep Dish 45 Pound Plate
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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, January 04, 2008
 Steve Stanko Demonstrates The Barbell Pullover | It used to be that benches didn't have uprights on them which mean if you wanted to do "the bench press" (or the supine press, as it was originally called), you had to do a pullover off the floor with the weight to get it in the proper position. ... And it was found that the pullover by itself turned out to be a fine exercise. That's Mr. America and Mr. Universe winner Steve Stanko demonstrating the barbell pullover off a 16" bench with 322 pounds -- pretty impressive! |
Labels: Back Exercise, Barbell Exercise, Exercise, Pullover, Steve Stanko
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Tuesday, November 20, 2007
York Rubber Chest ExpandersThe York Barbell Company sold several different versions of Chest Expanders over the years and here's a look at one of them.
Pretty ingenius really - a set of detachable hands with progressively harder rubber straps. They came in four levels: "Medium," "Athlete," "Strong" and "Hercules" strength.
On the right that's Mr. America Winner and Champion Weightlifter Steve Stanko demonstrating the overhead pulldown chest expander exercise.
Labels: Chest Expanders, Rubber Chest Expanders, Steve Stanko, Strongman Equipment, York Barbell Company
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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
Monday, October 29, 2007
On April 19, 1941 Steve Stanko made history as he the first man to break the mythic 1000-pound total in an official weightlifting contest.
Through his specialized upper-body training program he was able to build himself into a bodybuilding champion, winning the 1944 AAU Mr. America and Junior Mr. America, the 1945 Most Muscular Man in America and the 1947 Mr. Universe.
| Unfortunately Stanko also suffered from painful blood clots in his legs and five weeks later found himself in the hospital. By mid-1942 he regained enough health to begin light upper-body training again. He was told to stay off his legs and could only train while sitting or lying on a bench. |  Steve Stanko |
Labels: AAU, Bodybuilding, Mr. America, Mr. Universe, Olympic Weightlifting, Steve Stanko
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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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