NOTED STRONG MEN

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 921, 14 March 1930, Page 13

NOTED STRONG MEN

CYR THE GREATEST OF ALI LIFTED 4.300 POUNDS George J. MacDonald, the Boston strong man, writes an interesting letter respecting Louis C>r and other noted strong men, in an American exchange. C-yr, he states, “was undoubtedly the world's greatest all-round weight lifter. His back lift of 4.300 pounds made at Boston, Muss., has never beer duplicated. He weighed around 320 pounds in his prime. However, Warren L. Travis, at 210 pounds, has backlifted 4,000 pounds and though Cvi cleaned and jerked overhead 345 pounds, Henry Stein born, at 215 pounds, accomplished 347 i pounds. “Cyr in England Dent-pressed 273 pounds against Sandow’s 271 pounds. Arthur Saxon, weighing 210 pounds, raised 336 pounds, bent-pressing. Strongfort, at 175 pounds, claimed a bent-press of 312 pounds. Antone Matzsek, at 165 pounds, is credited with 301 pounds in a bent-press. It is difficult to pick the strongest man as a real strong man must be adept at every

lift. “Herman Corner of Germany was considered by many to be the strong-

est, but most authorities believe Cyr to be king of them all. George Jowett. at 154 pounds, has jerked 310 pounds, a double body overhead lift. Heibig. at 147 pounds, has achieved 290 pounds in Olympic. Games. Klein has accomplished the same. Max Sich. 140 pounds, has jerked overhead 330 pounds. These men can truly be called the strongest, although they' were only welter-weights. GREAT ONE-ARM LIFT

“I saw John Smith about three years ago break a world’s record, one-arm dead lift of 450 pounds. Smith weighed 150 pounds and was over 60 years old at the time. A one-arm military-press is a real test of arm strength, yet the world's record is only 127* pounds, held by Jowett of Canada. Saxon, who could bent-press 336 pounds, could only military-press 125 pounds and fc?andow only achieved 120 pounds. Gorner has cleaned and jerked above from neck 397* pounds and lifted 652 pounds, dead weight. “Hackenschmidt, Saxon and Xordquest, each around 215 pounds, have shoulder-bridged 360, 356 and 388 pounds in that lift. Yet Bill Tally, 360 pounds, raised 45S pounds and George Lurich, 190 pounds, has body tossed 420 pounds. George Zott.man was also good at bridging. ‘‘Appolan, Cyr, Horace, Barre and Marx were huge men and all-round lifters. I have been in a position whereby I could follow' up all lifts and lifters, and I know that what are records today are only ordinary lifts tomorrow. Every lifter deserves credit, for all are capable performers. Record holders are only slightly advanced over their competitors. Although I have been able to perform some good lifts, like others in the profession, I excell at certain lifts and fall short on others. Cyr was the greatest lifter because he was good all-around.” MACDONALD’S FEATS MacDonald is a light-heavy-weight, strong man contender. He weighs 175 pounds with following measurements: Neck, 16in.; chest, 44in.; upper arm, 16in; forearm, 13in.; wrist. Sin.; waist, 32in.; thigh. 24in:; calf, 15 in.; and ankle, lOin. His height is sft. 13in. Among MacDonald’s recent achievements afe a two-arm Continental jerk overhead of 280 pounds and a twoarm dead lift of 550 pounds. George is proficient at hand balancing, bar performing, tumbling and cycling. Lately he set out in pursuit of track and field honours, and is no mean high jumper. He also takes an active interest in boxing.