Emil Voss

Posted on Friday, August 13th, 2021 by John Wood
Emil Voss was a Prussian strongman who began performing with the Cinizelli Circus at the age of twenty. Voss’s act consisted of juggling cannon balls (16kg, and 32kg), lifting heavy thick-handled dumbbells, horse lifting via a harness, chain breaking through chest expansion, and placing a heavy barbell on his back and inviting members of the audience to hang on it as he walked around the arena, among other feats.
As fate would have it, one day a young Pyotr Krylov happened to catch Voss’ act and was instantly inspired. The young Krylov went home and imitated the feats on Voss’ act (or at least attempted to), thus setting Krylov on the road towards his own career as a great strongman.