Wednesday, September 23, 2009

  • Heinrich Rondi

    • Shown here is a rare picture of the German strongman Heinrich Rondi, one of the strongest men of the early 20th century. Rondi had a good year in 1906: he won the the European Lifting Championships, a World Greco-Roman wrestling title and a Gold Medal in the Tug O' War at the 1906 Olympics (where he also won two Bronze Medals in the weight lifting events.)

    In 1907, he added World Lifting Championship by besting his countryman Heinrich Schneidereit.

    In 1910, Rondi set two Amateur records with a right hand snatch of 203-1/2 pounds and a left hand snatch of 186-3/4 pounds.     		Heinrich RondiHeinrich Rondi

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    Posted by John Wood @ Wednesday, September 23, 2009

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    Tuesday, September 22, 2009

  • Tug-o-War Practice Inside Hemenway Gymnasium


    • Pictures from the inside of Hemenway Gymnasium are exceedingly rare. This one shows the Harvard Tug-o-War team getting in a some practice time around 1896 or so. Note the Wall Pulleys and Gymnastic Rings. Looks like a great place to train.

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    Posted by John Wood @ Tuesday, September 22, 2009

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    Friday, August 07, 2009

  • Heinrich Schneidereit


    • Heinrich Schneidereit the German Strongman, finished second to Francois Lancoud at the 1903 World Championships in Paris, France. He came back to win it all, however, in 1906 in Lille, France.

    At a bodyweight of only 176 lbs., his winning lifts were: a one-hand snatch of 176-1/2 lbs, Crucifix of 71-1/2 lbs (each hand), overhead press of 231 lbs, and a barbell clean & jerk of 275-1/2 lbs.

    Schneidereit also competed in the 1906 Intercalated Olympic Games in Athens, Greece. He finished third in both the one hand and two hand lifting events but did end up with a Gold Medal though as a member of the German Tug of War team.

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    Posted by John Wood @ Friday, August 07, 2009

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    Friday, May 01, 2009

  • Perikles Kakousis


    • Shown is Greek Weightlifter Perikles Kakousis on his way to winning the "Two Hand Lift" Weightlifting competition at the 1904 Summer Olympics held in St. Louis, Missouri. This lift of 246 pounds was good enough for the Gold Medal and set the world record at the time (breaking the old record by a mere four ounces.) The judge Dr. R. T. McKenzie looks on from the right.

    At the same games Kakousis also competed in the Tug 'O War event although his team only finished tied for 5th place.

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    Posted by John Wood @ Friday, May 01, 2009

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    Tuesday, March 31, 2009

  • Mighty Joe Young vs. 10 Strongmen


    • The 1949 film 'Mighty Joe Young' features a number of familiar faces. In a memorable scene, Mr. Joseph Young of Africa plays tug of war with 10 strongmen. The strongmen in question are played by Mac Batchelor and Primo Carnera and famous wrestlers Karl 'Killer' Davis, William 'Wee Willie' Davis, Henry Kulky, Sammy Menacker, Man Mountain Dean, Sammy Stein and 'The Swedish Angel' Phil Olafsson. (The strongmen never had a chance, Mighty Joe easily prevails, pulling them one by one into a pool of water.)

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    Posted by John Wood @ Tuesday, March 31, 2009

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    Friday, August 01, 2008

  • 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."

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    Posted by John Wood @ Friday, August 01, 2008

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