[quote]Aragorn wrote:
Ghost22 wrote:
Joe Grim wrote:
I thought immediately of the wonder of nature. I found this info on Paul Anderson on another website:
http://www.samson-power.com/ASL/anderson.html
Bench: 627 pounds
Squat: 1206 pounds
Deadlift: 820 pounds, he pulled a massive 1000 pounds using metal hooks attached to his wrists. This assisted deadlift was witnessed by Tommy Kono
Clean and Jerk: 480 pounds, unofficial
Push Press: 600 pounds, witnessed by Bob Hise
One Arm Press: 380 pounds, 300 pounds for ten reps; this 380 pound lift was the greatest lift ever lifted overhead with one arm; both were witnessed by Paul Magistratte
Backlift: 6270 pounds, witnessed by Kara Whitfield and Maurice Payne, included in the Guinness Book of World Records
I’m sure he was bull-strong but 1206?!? That doesn’t seem possible…
I know he was before the age of youtube but most of that stuff reeks of bullshit.
No one can lift that and today’s guys are better equipped, better fed, and more juiced than ever.
I’m sure he was strong but his stats have always seemed vastly overblown.
Yeah I know what you mean. However, knowing the character of Paul Anderson and the kind of person he was (by all accounts), and his very strong religious convictions, I do not think he is the kind of person to lie on purpose. As he stated a number of times, integrity was his most prized quality. Perhaps things were blown out of proportion after he died, which I would certainly believe.
On the other hand, I believe the lifts Hise and Kono witnessed because I believe the witnesses are themselves reliable people and well respected. I believe the bench press number too–if you accept his push press, then a 600+ bench puts you in a better mechanical position to get more from your lats, and besides Anderson was a very…large…man, so ROM would be shortened very significantly. The backlift is factually true, there is a picture of it and it’s a Guinness record, but it only moved about 1".
The squat I want to believe, but it’s just too far out there. Supposedly he did this in front of about 20 International Olympic lifters. I dunno where I heard that and I don’t think I can back that up. Besides 1200 is an unholy number in the first place.[/quote]
The Internet claims that Hise and Kono witnessed these lifts. Did they ever come forward and say they did? Heck, the Wikipedia page still says he squatted 1206x2.
The backlift also may or may not have been accurate. Guinness never showed up, and no one weighed the equipment! If you are interested, check the ironhistory forums for more information. Some people there take their lifting history way too seriously.
I agree Koklyaev is the best all-around strength guy. I think he even competed in some Highland games.