In the fifties of the 20th century, the name Paul Edward Anderson was known to everyone involved in the sport. The young weightlifter was known throughout the world for his records. Athlete's achievements are still amazing, to say nothing of the last century. The nickname "crane" Paul received for his incredible power and strength.
Already at 23, Anderson became the most authoritative person on Earth. After moving to Atlanta, Paul's life changed. At the age of 20, Edward began to gain weight sharply, it was at this time that his uncle gave him a barbell. After several workouts, Paul realized that the barbell was his. He began to devote all his free time to weightlifting and after a few years became the most powerful person in the world of sports. The path to conquering the world of sports was not easy, but weightlifter Paul Anderson did not choose fate, the sport he chose.
There is no limit to perfection in sports
Weightlifting competitions have not changed significantly since then. In powerlifting, as now, in those years, athletes did three exercises: jerk, push, bench press. And it didn’t even occur to anyone that there was a person on earth capable of breaking existing records. In total, to gain 500 kg - the mission is impossible, but not for Anderson. The athlete was able to break the record of the winner of the 1952 Olympics, American John Davis, with a result of 460 kg, when he gained 518.5 kg, participating in competitions in South Carolina.
At the World Championships in Munich in 1955, everyone expected Anderson to conquer new heights. And he lived up to expectations. Paul Anderson, weightlifter, whose record was 512.5 kg. He received a gold medal. This indicator became a new world record. The athlete did not stop there and set a few more records: in the bench - 185.5 kg, in the clean and jerk - 196.5 kg.
American Weightlifting Team
In 1955, Paul's pace in sports was gaining momentum. Once in the team of American weightlifters to Bob Hoffman, Anderson did not deceive the expectations of his fans. At demonstrations in Moscow in the same year, weightlifter Paul Anderson was able to win the hearts of all fans of heavy sports - he lifted a total of 518 kg. In addition to world records, “man is a mountain” won the hearts of women with his charm, which cannot be taken from him. In 1956, after the Olympics in Melbourne, Anderson announced that tournaments exhausted him, and decided to leave the sport.
World records
Weightlifter Paul Anderson decided that his skills and knowledge should not be wasted. Paul began to travel around America, demonstrating his talents. Sometimes he showed circus acts that surprised the audience with their exclusivity and incredible performance. Until now, no one can beat Anderson's world records, although many athletes have tried to do this. Paul Anderson is a weightlifter, another achievement of which was recorded in the Guinness Book of Records - he was able to lift a huge weight off his shoulders without the help of various kinds of tools. The result of the athlete is 2844 kilograms.
Bench press, squats and traction
To achieve incredible results, weightlifter Paul Anderson performed various kinds of exercises that are used today. The squat master was in the habit of doing this three times a week, and sometimes daily, performing several approaches throughout the day. High-frequency training consisted in the use of an identical exercise 3 to 15 times during the week.
For Anderson, it was not a problem to squat with a weight of 408 kilograms 19 times. In addition, he performed half-squats with a weight of 680 kilograms. Least of all Anderson loved bench presses, he tried to do them the minimum number of times. Training for Anderson was very important, although he had no competitors, Paul tried to constantly train to stay in good physical shape for as long as possible. Anderson believed that you need to change the usual exercises - first lift the weight from a standing position, and then from a lying position.
Wear work
Unfortunately, in professional sports it is problematic to work without wearing out the body. Paul Anderson is a weightlifter who lifts weights beyond the reach of the average person. Giant power loads negatively affected the athlete's health, and he began to gradually take. The kidneys were the first to fail, after they began to disturb the joints. Paul was rapidly losing weight. At the time when he had a kidney transplant, Anderson weighed no more than 80 kilograms. And, although the organ transplant saved him, Paul did not return to the sport.
Caring for orphanages
The athlete donated all the money earned to orphanages, which his family helped. Paul's health condition led him to completely abandon the sport and become a Christian preacher.
Paul Anderson, a weightlifter whose cause of death has not been officially announced, passed away in 1994, before he reached the age of 63. But even without official disclosure, it is clear that the reason for this was his work for wear. This rhythm of life killed Paul. Every year, Atlanta organizes weightlifting competitions in memory of the famous athlete who conquered the whole world. Paul Anderson was buried in Atlanta. The Paul Anderson Memorial is located in the state of Georgia, the city of Toccoa.