Five Strongest Humans
Over the years, people have always been interested in physical strength. Whether it’s the legendary stories of Hercules or the historic Olympic Games where strong men competed to prove who was the mightiest, the desire to find the strongest person has been a constant theme. Let’s take a look at five of the most powerful people in history.
Louis Uni-Strongman
LIVED: FRANCE, 1862–1928
HEIGHT: 6’3″
WEIGHT: 260 LBS
Describing Uni’s heroics can be tricky because many people talk about them in a big and uncritical way. It’s hard to figure out exactly where Apollon the Mighty, also called Uni, stands among the all-time greats. But one thing’s for sure – his hands were so huge and powerful that he could lift bars others couldn’t even hold. Uni, a really strong and fast guy, used to challenge everyone to wrestling matches. He might just be the first-ever strong athlete in history.
Brian Siders, powerlifter
BORN: USA, 1978
HEIGHT: 6’2″
WEIGHT:345 LBS
With an impressive squat of 1,019 pounds, a bench press of 799 pounds, and a deadlift of 865 pounds, totaling 2,651 pounds, Siders unquestionably earns a place on this outstanding list for his overall strength. Notably, his remarkable raw lifts include 650 pounds on the bench and 840 pounds on the deadlift. Siders take pride in achieving these feats without the use of performance-enhancing substances. He attributes his strength to his genetic advantages and a strong work ethic, much like the person who follows him on the list.
Andy Bolton, powerlifter
BORN: England, 1970
HEIGHT: 6′
WEIGHT: 350 LBS
Andy Bolton, a man from Britain, made history as the first person ever to lift 1,000 pounds in a deadlift. During the competition, he went beyond his previous best two times, lifting 1,003 pounds and then setting a new record with 1,008 pounds. Bolton’s combined weight lifted in three different lifts is 2,806.34 pounds, ranking as the third-highest total in history. Additionally, he holds the fourth-highest record for squatting at 1,213.63 pounds. Bolton once expressed his goal of reaching a remarkable 3,000-pound total, a feat that most powerlifters, no matter the time, can only dream of achieving.
Leonid Taranenko, weightlifter
BORN: USSR, 1956
HEIGHT: 5’11”
WEIGHT: 260 LBS
In the year 1988, in a remarkable time for weightlifting, Taranenko set world records in both the clean and jerk (266 kg, or 58.2 pounds) and total lift (475 kg, or 1,045 pounds). These records remain unbeaten even today. Although the International Weightlifting Federation changed its weight classes, Taranenko’s official records are no longer recognized. Nevertheless, no one has lifted more than him since then.
Brian Shaw, Strongman
BORN: USA, 1982
HEIGHT: 6’8″
WEIGHT: 435 LBS
Shaw and the famous Bill Kazmaier share something special: both of them have achieved top-three placements at the World’s Strongest Man competition five times. Shaw, a two-time winner in 2011 and 2013, has some impressive feats in competition, lifting 1,122 pounds in the Hummer tire deadlift and 972 pounds in the deadlift (using straps). He’s also known for deadlifting 985 pounds (with straps), benching 535 pounds, and squatting 825 pounds in the gym.
