On This Day In Strength History

John Henry Davis was born on January 12, 1921, in Smithtown, NY. He grew up and rose to weightlifting fame in Brooklyn, NY. John won the US Nationals 12 times, set numerous world records, won 6 World Championships and 2 Olympic Games. At the Weightlifting Nationals of 1941 he became the first man in history to exceed 1,000 pounds in the three-lift total. Davis made 1005, breaking Steve Stanko's historic 1,000-pound American total record that had been set in April of 1941.

On This Day In Strength History

Joe Rollino bending a spike with his teeth.

On January 11, 2010, Joseph Rollino  known as the Great Joe Rollino, the Mighty Joe Rollino or the World’s Strongest Man passed away after being struck by a van while out for his daily five mile walk. The 104-year-old Brooklynite, who once lifted 635 pounds with one finger and lifted 475 pounds with his teeth,  who once lifted 3,200 pounds at Coney Island during its heyday was still bending quarters with his fingers at age 104. During his storied life, Rollino hobnobbed with Harry Houdini, watched Jack Dempsey knock out Jess Willard and was friendly with Mario Lanza. He even had a bit part in "On the Waterfront."             

On This Day In Strength History

November 22, 1935 Tony Terlazzo became first American to lift a International Weightlifting Federation world record.

FSS Lifters at IBP Nationals Video

FSS Marion, NC Training Video

On This Day In Strength History

Oct. 7, 1989 - Marvin Eder received the Association of Oldetime Barbell & Strongmen Highest Achievement Award. Eder’s feats of strength include a 515-pound bench press, squatting 550-pounds for 10 deep reps, 12 one-arm chins and a 365-pound overhead press. At the 1951 Pan-American Games tryouts, he surpassed the world record in the press with 337 at a bodyweight of 192.

On This Day In Strength History

On October 4, 1947, Bob Peoples pulled the “mythical” 700-pound deadlift in
the Bob Hise Show, an official contest in Chattanooga’s YMCA. When the bar was weighed it was 699; nonetheless, this world record
in the 181 pound class outstripped the world record held by Carl
Pepke, by 32 pounds.

On This Day In Strength History

September 27, 1879 Adolph G. Pitz was born in Germany. Pitz did some remarkable feats of strength having performed a "One Arm Press" with 178 pounds and a "Two Arm Press" with 220 pounds at a body weight around 165 pounds.

On This Day In Strength History

Joseph Curtis Hise died September 26, 1972. 
Hise is known as the father of American weightlifting. He is especially famous for creating the well known 20 rep breathing squats program.

On This Day In Strength History

Sanislaus Zbyszko died September 23, 1967. He was a strongman and professional wrestler popular in the United States during the 1920s. He was one of the most influential European grapplers of all-time, he was also among the sport’s great pioneer champions.

On This Day In Strength History

Walter Podolak was born September 19, 1909.
The Golden Superman Walter Podolak made some very fine lifts as a super strongman. He pulled six cars with his teeth; lifted over 500 pounds in the teeth lift; one arm military pressed 131¾ pounds with a dumbell; bent pressed 305; back somersaults with a 50 pound dumbell in each hand; alternate pressed 100 pound dumbells for 42 reps, and was one of the first men to clean & jerk over 300 pounds.

On This Day In Strength History

September 16, 1926 Doug Hepburn was born in Vancouver, BC.
He won the gold medal at the 1953 World Weightlifting Championships in Stockholm, Sweden.

On This Day In Strength History

John Davis, of the United States, on September 13th, 1949 was the 2nd person to lift the Apollon Wheels. Davis was also a World Champion Weightlifter and was the first man to Clean and Jerk 400 pounds under official meet conditions.

On This Day In Strength History

September 8, 1900 George Lurich set a world record in “belly toss” of 443 pounds.
(The "belly toss" was done while laying flat on the ground, arching during the lift the way a wrestler bridges. This movement began with the back and leg arching maneuver to get the bar started.)

Book Review: Steroids Kill

A few comments about the book STERIODS KILL by Tom Ciola.
This book gives a great historical view of the origin of Steroids. It describes the effect Steroids have had and are having on sports today. Ciola explains the psychological dilemma caused by steroids. He explains it is very hard to stop taking steroids after you achieve increased size and strength. He states many athletes don't understand when you stop taking steroids your body will start to loose size and strength. Also, your body becomes accustom to steroids and it takes more and more to get the job done as time goes on.
Ciola talks about the side effects and negative results of taking Steriods. He interviews many people about their experiences with this drug. The book encourages you to be the best you can be without the use of drugs. Cioli outlines drug free training alternatives.
I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn more about steroids or is thinking about using them.
Keith Payne

On This Day In Strength History

September 1,1932 Hermann Goerner curled 110 l/4 pounds in each hand.

On This Day In Strength History

Bert Assirati, one of history’s greatest strength athletes and wrestlers died of cancer of the bladder on August 31, 1990. Bert did a straight arm pullover of 200 with ease. He could curl 200 pounds and squat for reps with 550 when a 400 pound squat was regarded as extraordinary. He also did a single-legged squat with 200 pounds.

On This Day In Strength History

On August 30, 1953 Norbert Schemansky set a world record in the Clean and Jerk of 181kg in the middle heavyweight division at Stockholm. During his lifting career he set an amazing 75 US National, World and Olympic records, while winning nine National and four World championships--and four Olympic medals in four Olympic Games.

On This Day In Strength History

On August 29, 1953 Reg Park successfully pressed the 258 pound dumbbells. It was a British Professional Heavyweight Record. Reg commented "I had to keep a strict military position, not the looser Olympic style, and I was forced to hold the dumbbells at my shoulders for almost half a minute before I pressed them to satisfy the referee's demand for a low enough position".

This Day In Strength History

Walter Podolak "The Golden Superman" was born on August 19, 1909. He was recognized as the strongest man in America in 1933. Posolak once held the world's amateur record for a deadlift of 654 pounds.











 

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