Austrian Strongman Archives - www.oldtimestrongman.com

Hans Haas

Posted on Sunday, December 10th, 2017 by John Wood

Hans Haas, the Austrian weightlifter, was the second man to do a double bodyweight clean & jerk in international competition. He accomplished this mark in winning the Gold Medal in the lightweight class at the 1928 Olympic Games in Amsterdam. Haas came back four years later to win the Silver medal at the 1932 Games in Los Angeles.

Gottfried Huber

Posted on Thursday, November 30th, 2017 by John Wood

Not much is known of Gottfried Huber, the early weightlifter/strongman/wrestler from the Austrian state of Tirol. What little is remembered is that he specialized in feats of gripping power and finger lifting. Consequently, he was also a champion in the sport of Fingerhakeln (finger hooking), a test of strength in which you you try to pull your opponent across a table with your middle finger only.

Karl Swoboda Medal

Posted on Tuesday, July 29th, 2014 by John Wood

Karl Swoboda Medal

An Austrian by birth, Karl Swoboda was one of the early strength “Giants” — literally — as he eventually reached a bodyweight of over 400 lbs. Swoboda later owned his own restaurant and did plenty of lifting back in the “bier garden.” His best year was 1911 when he won two world titles.
You can read more about Karl Swoboda in Physical Training Simplified by Mark Berry and The Truth Abut Weight Lifting by Alan Calvert.

Swoboda Stamp

Posted on Monday, June 10th, 2013 by John Wood

In 1912, the Austrian government issued a 4 Heller stamp honoring the great strength champion Karl Swoboda who had just won the world weightlifting championship the year before. It’s not hard to see why, one of the lifts that won him the title was a right arm military press of 154-1/2 pounds!

Josef Steinbach

Posted on Wednesday, December 14th, 2011 by John Wood

Josef Steinbach

Josef Steinbach of Vienna, Austria, was one of the greatest weightlifters and strongmen of the early 20th century. Some of his best marks include: a two-hand Continental and Jerk of 387 pounds, a two-hands Snatch of 264-3/4 pounds and a two-hand Continental and press of 335 pounds (besting Louis Cyr’s mark by 34 pounds.)
He won the world amateur weightlifting title from 1904 through 1906 and went on to win the Gold medal in the “One Arm” event and a Silver medal in the “Two Arm” event at the 1906 Olympics.