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08-15-2006, 01:18 AM
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Louis Cyr The Godfather of Strongman!
Ive got much respect for the man that started the whole Powerlifting/Strongman sport off, Louis Cyr was your typical barrel shaped Strongman which shaped generations to follow in his foot steps, they certainly were made of tougher stuff back then.
 Louis Cyr, baptised Cyprien-Noé Cyr (October 10, 1863 – November 10, 1912) was a famous Canadian strongman. Cyr never backed down from a challenge and was undefeated in Canada and abroad. His fame was earned before accurate records were kept and before weightlifting was included among Olympic events. Early years Cyr was born in St. Cyprien de Napierville in Quebec, Canada. From the age of twelve Cyr worked in a lumber camp during the winters and on the family’s farm the rest of the year. He impressed his fellow workers with his feats of strength. The Dictionary of Canadian Biography notes that according to one of his biographers, his mother decided “he should let his hair grow, like Samson in the Bible.” She curled it regularly. In 1878 the Cyr family immigrated to Lowell, Massachusetts in the United States. It was in Lowell that, Cyr changed his name from Cyprien-Noé to Louis, as it was easier to pronounce in English. Again his great strength brought him fame. At seventeen he weighed 230 pounds (104 kg). He entered his first strongman contest in Boston at age eighteen, lifting a horse off the ground. Rise to fame Cyr returned to Quebec in 1882 with his family and was married. The following year he and his wife returned to Lowell, hoping to capitalize on his fame there. A tour of the Maritimes was organized, and while it may have benefitted the organizer, Cyr made nothing from it. He then began touring Quebec with his family in a show they called “The Troupe Cyr.” From 1883 to 1885, Cyr served as a police officer in Montreal. Following this he went on tour with a troupe that included a wrestler, a boxer and a weightlifter. He entered a strongman competition in March, 1886 at Quebec City, against the reigning Canadian strongman, David Michaud. Cyr lifted a 218-pound (99 kg) barbell with one hand (to Michaud’s 158 pounds/72 kg) and a weight of 2,371 pounds (1 076 kg) on his back, to his opponent’s 2,071 pounds (940 kg) to win the title of strongest man in the country. His reputation as a strongman  "Louis Cyr ready to restrain horses", from The National Archives of Canada While several of Cyr's feats of strength have been exaggerated over the years, some were documented and remain impressive. These included lifting a platform on his back holding 18 men, lifting a 500-pound (227 kg) weight with his finger and pushing a freight car up an incline. Perhaps his greatest feat occurred in 1895, when he was reported to have lifted 4,337 pounds (1 969 kg) on his back. One of Cyr's most-talked about stunts occurred on 12 October 1891, in Montreal. On that occasion he restrained four horses – two pulling in each direction. In The Strongest Man in History, Ben Weider says that Cyr's records remain "uncontested and incontestable." Cyr died of chronic nephritis.  Monument to Louis Cyr by Robert PelletierA district of Montreal is named Louis-Cyr in his honour; it is located in Saint-Henri, the area he patrolled as a police officer. Both the Parc Louis-Cyr and the Place des Hommes-Forts ("Strongmen's Square") are named after him, the latter being decorated with his image in the form of a statue. 
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08-15-2006, 01:23 AM
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There was no doubt that Cyr was an unusual man regarding size and measurements, the latter often causing debate. His height was normally agreed at 5'10 1/2", although Dr. Dudley A. Sargent, famous Harvard University physical director recorded measuring Louis Cyr in 1895 when Cyr was 32 and weighed 291lb/132kg. Sargent listed Cyr's height as just 5'8 1/2". Other measurements, most on the conservative side as compared to other biographers, were Neck - 20"/50.8cm, Biceps - 20"/51.5cm, Forearms - 16.3"/41.4cm, Wrists - 8.2"/20.8cm, Chest (normal) - 55.2"/140.2cm, Chest expanded - 60"/152.4cm, Waist - 47.4"/120.4cm, Hips - 48.1"/122cm, Thighs - 28.5"/72.4cm, Knees - 17", and Calves - 19.3"/49cm, far short of the quoted 28", but perhaps a possible 23" later when of higher bodyweight. Ankle 10.3"/26cm and Shoulder width with calipers .... across the deltoids 25.6"/65cm. The above details were just one set of figures relating to Cyr's size, others being recorded by Willoughby when for example Cyr was 47 years old (in 1910) gave him calf 23", neck 22 3/4", Biceps 21 1/2". chest normal 59 1/2" and thighs 33" with other parts to match the increase in weight, being at the time a heavier 365 lbs. Ben Weider who was privileged to family archives was even more generous giving arm size 24"/61cm, forearms 19"/48.2cm, and calves, the disputed 28"/71cm, following a similar line to Jowett.
W. J. Lowry once wrote 'Credit may have been given to certain people in the past by writers whose integrity is doubtless beyond reproach, but nevertheless possibly allowed their enthusiasm to sway their sense of responsibility towards registrars of history.' What is interesting is to compare some of the measurements of todays behemoths in the Worlds Strongest Man Contest, e.g. Grizzly, to see just what is possible.  Last edited by POWERJIM; 08-15-2006 at 01:29 AM.
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08-15-2006, 10:46 AM
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-my dad "The great Canadian" wrestled a polar bear, "once" jk
-there are quite a few strongmen coming from quebec and ontario these days, but still that guy is ****ing crazy, unique, and probally an exception -mabye theres something in the beer -thats a great article, i never knew about this fella
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08-15-2006, 10:50 AM
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powerjim will be known as the louis cyr of bodybuilding4u.com as he is one of the original reasons y a powerlifting section was created. Rumor has it that he once made over 100 post in one day with just one finger.. and 99% of it was great post.. if i dare to say so myself........
__________________
Dog20 for BB4U troll. Vote Yes.
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08-15-2006, 10:59 AM
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08-15-2006, 11:05 AM
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i dont think they were made of tougher stuff back then, strongmen have always, an will always be made of tough stuff..an the strongman of today are as strong as ever (if you dont include mark henry)
lifting 218lb barbell with one hand dont make much sense, it cant have just been a deadlift, the 500lbs with 1 finger would be impressive, but i dont know if that happened or not
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08-15-2006, 11:09 AM
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09-06-2006, 07:09 PM
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Louis Cyr is the greatest strongman ever documented and that's a fact. He had a great career as a professional strongman and retired undefeated. As for Mark Henry - yeah he's strong, VERY strong - but he's no Louis Cyr. Not by a long shot IMHO. 
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09-06-2006, 07:32 PM
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