Tearing a Mini-Deck of Cards


Paul Anderson was also a Senior World Champion and a 2-time Senior National Champion in Weightlifting. He set nine World Records and Eighteen American records during his career and retired undefeated.
He was also incredibly strong in what would eventually become the three Power Lifts: the squat, bench press and deadlift.
Here’s a look at some of Paul Anderson’s record lifts:
* Bench Press: 625 lbs.
* Deadlift Record without Straps: 780 lbs.
* Deadlift Record with “Hooks”: 820 lbs.
* Clean & Press: 485 lbs.
* Clean & Jerk: 485 lbs.
* Snatch: 375 lbs.
* Push Press: 545 lbs.
* Back Lift: 6270 lbs.
* Dumbbell Side Press: 240 lbs. x 40 / 300 lbs. x 11
At this affair which ran for one week at the old Madison Square Garden, NYC, there were staged various unique events and one of these was a contest in teeth-lifts. I was a judge in this particular affair. Joseph Vitole then and there made an official record of 550 lbs. in the teeth-lift which, to the best of my knowledge, has never been broken. Now please check up on what I have written: Vitole weighed only 155 lbs. himself, yet with the power of his back, neck, jaws and teeth, he lifted this weighted barbell, which was officially tested and checked by many assigned for that particular purpose, and found to weigh 550 lbs. Vitole often told me afterwards that he could easily lift much more than that poundage…”
~ Earle E. Liederman