Quebec Strongman Archives - www.oldtimestrongman.com

Samson Champagne’s Rack Pull

Posted on Thursday, December 16th, 2021 by John Wood

Another rather incredibly feat by Quebec strongman Claude “Samson” Champagne, (who we have featured previously.) Count up all that weight and you’ll arrive at a total of 1369 pounds for a three-inch “rack pull” — or what at one time might have been called a hand and thigh lift. Double overhand grip, no straps, just pure strength — bravo! Noted bodybuilder Rick Wayne also looks on in amazement.

Claude “Samson” Champagne

Posted on Tuesday, December 11th, 2018 by John Wood

Another Samson (There are many ‘Samsons’ in this game) This time Claude “Samson” Champagne of Quebec certainly earned his nickname with superhuman feats like this one: letting a five ton truck run over his chest. Wow!

Eugene Caouette

Posted on Friday, April 20th, 2018 by John Wood

Eugene Caouette is another name in the great Quebec Strongman Tradition. The giant French Canadian stood well over six feet and tipped the scales at 460 pounds! His best lifts were a Crucifix with a pair of 76-pound dumbbells, a Kennedy Lift with 1354 pounds, one-arm snatch 173-3/4 pounds (with either hand) and a one-arm clean and jerk of 213 pounds.

Paul Baillargeon

Posted on Wednesday, October 25th, 2017 by John Wood

I have said many times that Arthur Saxon’s records would never be broken… and they won’t be… but the man who has come the closest was Paul Baillargeon of the famed Baillargeon Brothers of Quebec. These six brothers were all incredible wrestlers and strength athletes who toured their native Canada and the US taking on all comers.

Paul, shown here, who was quite possibly the strongest of the brothers, often lifted a horse as the finale of their strength performances. This picture shows him officially bent-pressing a barbell loaded to 321 pounds, a feat which he achieved on May 11, 1951, in front of Harry B. Paschall and other reliable witnesses at the Apollo Health Studio in Columbus, Ohio.

Paul Baillargeon actually did succeed in bent-pressing 375 pounds in practice a few times but never under official conditions.

Victor DeLamarre’s Backlift

Posted on Tuesday, October 3rd, 2017 by John Wood

In October, 1928, Victor DeLamarre performed a backlift of an entire precinct of Quebec policemen. The captain, Emile Trudel, stands in the foreground. Interestingly, DeLamarre only weighed about 200 pounds at the time. It was said that one of the reasons for DeLamarre’s great strength was that he had thicker than average tendons and bones.

Oscar Marineau

Posted on Saturday, October 8th, 2016 by John Wood

Oscar Marineau, the great Canadian Strongman is shown here with a unique exhibition feat: that’s 850 pounds supported on his back which he took out for a stroll. The two engines weighed 346 pounds each and his son weighed over 150 pounds. In order to get the weights in position in the first place, Marineau had to perform a partial squat. Marineau weighed only 142 pounds himself.

Gaston Heon

Posted on Tuesday, October 14th, 2014 by John Wood

There has been a long tradition of Canadian Strongmen, one that you probably haven’t heard of is Gaston Heon of Quebec. Heon performed standard feats such as phone book tearing, the human link and having a large rock broken on his chest with a sledge hammer… but he also performed several unusual — and somewhat dangerous — feats, such as allowing himself to be run over by a car traveling 40 miles per hour(!) and this backlift/support of a 3000 pound automobile.

The Brothers Baillargeon

Posted on Wednesday, September 10th, 2014 by John Wood

The Brothers Baillargeon are another entry in the long line of great strongmen from Quebec. From left to right: Charles, Paul, Adrian, Lionel, Jean, and Antonio. They traveled the continent performing tremendous strength feats and all eventually became famous professional wrestlers.

Note the family crest on their uniforms: It featured the number “6” (representing all six brothers) a beaver, their name and a maple leaf logo.