Don Athaldo Archives - www.oldtimestrongman.com

Don Athaldo Lifts a Car

Posted on Friday, August 13th, 2021 by John Wood

Billed as “The Most Stupendous Super-Strength Feat The World Has Ever Seen!”, Don Athaldo is shown here lifting an Essex Super-Six Sedan car and platform, which was weighed officially at 3500 lbs. The weight was lifted as shown, 8 inches from the ground, and held for 20 seconds at Sydney, NSW, on May 6th, 1930.

Don Athaldo Leg Presses a Car

Posted on Friday, December 15th, 2017 by John Wood

Supporting feats were quite popular with many of the Oldtime strongmen since some truly impressive weights could be lifted. Here’s the Australian strongman Don Athaldo supporting a three-quarter ton car on his legs and arms. This took place on December 12, 1931 in New South Wales.

Unknown Strongman #5

Posted on Thursday, February 6th, 2014 by John Wood

Unknown Strongman #5

Unfortunately the details of these fellows has been lost but I have to say I have certainly never seen this version of the Human Anvil feat before. The Human Anvil feat always goes over well with an audience but the stakes have been raised with this version: on a bed on nails, with an assistant chopping away at a large log with an ax!

UPDATE: we found out that the fellow chopping wood is 17-time world champion axeman Leo Appo.

SOLVED: The “hitee’ here is great Australian strongman Don Athaldo, this took place in New South Wales in 1933.

Don Athaldo

Posted on Saturday, April 21st, 2012 by John Wood

Don Athaldo - Australian Strongman

he land down under has had its fair share of great strongmen and one of the most well known was Don Athaldo from New South Wales. Athaldo (born Walter Joseph) overcame a sickly childhood and injuries incurred during World War I to become a circus strongman. Athaldo had a flair for performing, often donning tiger-skin outfits, gladiator boots and a fiery red cape. Athaldo performed a number of unusual feats, including carrying a horse up a ladder with the use of a harness and supporting an automobile in the “leg press” position. Athaldo also wrote a number of training courses which were very well received.