John Grimek
John Grimek | |
---|---|
— Bodybuilder — | |
Personal info | |
Born |
June 17, 1910 Perth Amboy, New Jersey |
Died | November 20, 1998 88)[1] | (aged
Height | 5 ft 8.5 in (1.74 m) |
Weight | 195 lb (88 kg) |
Professional career |
John Carroll Grimek (June 17, 1910[2] – November 20, 1998) was a bodybuilder and weightlifter active in the 1930s and 1940s.
Grimek was born in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, the son of Slovak immigrants George and Maria Grimek, peasants from the village Ústie nad Oravou in western Slovakia.[3]
Besides his bodybuilding exploits, for which he was never defeated, Grimek also represented the United States in weightlifting at the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin.
In 1948, at 38 years of age, Grimek defeated Steve Reeves at the NABBA Mr. Universe contest in London.
The following year he won his last contest, the AAU Mr. USA, against a field that included Reeves, Clarence Ross, George Eiferman, and Armand Tanny. He retired from bodybuilding undefeated.[citation needed]
John was featured in many bodybuilding articles and magazines, as well as being photographed in bodybuilding magazines. Despite his retirement, Grimek continued serious training for many years, and was still able to squat with over 400 pounds for reps in his late 60s.[citation needed] Grimek died in York, Pennsylvania. He was inducted into the IFBB Hall of Fame in 1999.
Profile
The following measurements are from 1940/1941:
- Height: 5'8½"
- Weight: 195 lbs.
- Neck: 17 inches
- Arm: 17.5 inches
- Forearm: 14 inches
- Chest: 47 inches
- Waist: 31 inches
- Thigh: 25 inches
- Calf: 17 inches
- Wrist: 8 inches
- Ankle: 9.8 inches
Titles
- 1939 York Perfect Man
- 1940 Mr. America
- 1941 Mr. America
- 1946 Most Muscular Man In America
- 1948 Mr. Universe Short & Overall
- 1949 Mr. USA
External links
- IFBB Hall of Fame profile
- Classic Bodybuilder
- Clarence Bass on Grimek
- John Grimek – Hall of Fame at Weightlifting Exchange
References
- ↑ Weider, Joe (December 1998). "John Grimek: 1910–1998". Iron Game History 5 (3). Retrieved 21 February 2012.
- ↑ According to the Social Security Death Index, he was born on June 18, 1911.
- ↑ Why John Grimek didn't visit Slovakia...