Hermann Goerner
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Hermann Goerner, (April 13, 1891 – June 29, 1956) was a famous German strongman. Goerner performed in various countries and achieved feats of strength rarely matched to this day, most notably in lifts requiring exceptional gripping strength.
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[edit] Early years
Goerner was born in Haenichen near Leipzig, Germany. He started lifting weights at the age of 10 and was able to perform a one-handed swing of 110lbs by the age of 14. Hermann was a good all round athlete with a powerful physique and worked at various times as a model for painters and sculptors. He was 6-1 in height and weighed between 264 and 293 pounds during his career.
From 1911 he competed in various weightlifting tournaments and placed fourth in the 1913 Weightlifting World Championships.
[edit] Professional strong man
Goerner became a professional strong man in 1921 and toured countries such as Germany, Britain and South Africa.
His act included wrestling with a 1,500lbs elephant and challenging any member of the audience to lift the 330lbs barbell with 2.4 inch shaft which he had just raised above his head. Hermann and his wife Elsie stayed with the famous Pullum family while touring with their strength act and Hermann was known to be a witty and very personable individual whose bravery matched his physical strength.
[edit] Feats of Strength
Among Hermann Goerner's many feats of strength were the following notable lifts:-
- One-handed deadlift 734lbs, 1920 - Dresden, Germany (as quoted in Guinness Book of Records 1974).
- deadlift 595.5lbs using just 2 fingers of each hand, 1920.
- pinch lift 111 lbs, 1934.
- Leg pressing 24 men on a platform, 1921 (as quoted in Guinness Book of Records 1974).
[edit] "Goerner The Mighty" by Ed Mueller
Ed Mueller's book "Goerner The Mighty" is now available online, contributed by Gordon Anderson. To view click on the external link below.
[edit] Later years
Goerner was injured by shrapnel and lost an eye during World War One and was for a while held in a concentration camp during World War Two but then settled after the war in a village near Hanover, Germany with his beloved wife Elsie, who died in 1949. Hermann was regularly visited by admirers at his small apartment and, despite the setbacks of losing his wife and war wounds, lived to the age of 65 before passing away in 1956.
[edit] References
- Webster, David B. 1976. The Iron Game Irvine Press.
- Mueller, Ed, 1951. Goerner The Mighty The Vulcan Publishing Company.
