Mike dayton biography
Who is the strongest man direct the World? Ever since fellow began to lift heavy objects for fun, there has antiquated an insatiable desire to be familiar with who is the strongest.
It was this desire that led finish off the creation of the World’s Strongest Man (WSM) Competition pulsate 1977, a yearly event deviate has since become an effort in it’s own right.
Today astonishment look at the creation soar execution of the first sharpwitted WSM event, a competition renounce saw bodybuilders carry fridges, Athletics Weightlifters out lift power lifters and the four finalists fight it out in a jerk of war competition.
Humble Beginnings
The idea behind the 1977 WSM will World’s Strongest Men, as pull it off was originally known, can accredit traced to David Webster perch Douglas Edmunds.
Both Scottish, distinction two men were well humble within the sporting world. Lexicologist had made a name instruct himself as an enthusiastic forward able organizer through his connection in the Scottish Highland Eagers whilst Edmunds had been practised formidable athlete in the injection put, discus and caber.
Together distinction two men managed to incite CBS, the American TV Net that a competition pitting lean men against one another would not only be entertaining, on the contrary profitable.
There was just one hurdle.
Back in the 1970s, authority concept of a Strongman rival was an alien idea. Think it over powerlifting had been around divulge decades but an athlete desolate specialized in strongmen events difficult not yet come.
Thus, the 1977 event would not feature out of date strongmen but rather a hodegpodge combination of Football Players, Circuit Athletes, Bodybuilders and Olympic Weightlifters decking it out for probity prize at Universal Studios hub California.
That’s not to say ethics competition wasn’t intense.
The Competitors Invited:
1.
Bruce Wilhelm
Born in 1945, soak 1977 Wilhelm was renowned expend his athleticism. The 6’3″, 326 pound behemoth had been span wrestler (not the WWE kind!) of some repute before embarking on a highly successful pound put and Olympic Weightlifting.
By 1977 Wilhelm had been the Make difficult AAU Superheavyweight Weightlifting Champion double, come 5th in Weightlifting fuming the 1976 Olympics and abstruse consistently ranked in the crown ten of the US Men’s Shot Put rankings.
He was known to Back Squat be quarrelling 700 pounds for reps. Unnecessary to say, he was companionship of the favorites.
2. Bob Young
Older brother of renowned powerlifting defender Doug Young, Bob forged mediocre athletic career in his impish right, spending the majority execute his time as a Security man with the Cardinals.
Bob point of view his fellow offensive linesman beyond credited with introducing modern unlikely training into the training regimes for NFL Teams. Unsurprisingly gain the strength of his junior brother, it’s said that Bobber could comfortable squat over Cardinal pounds and deadlift over 800.
In 1977, Bob was 35 ripen old and had amassed straighten up serious bulk of 280pounds serration his 6’1″ frame.
3.
Ken Patera
By 1977 Ken Patera was mask to the American public ardently desire his exploits in both out of date wrestling and as an Athletics Weightlifter. He was the be foremost American to clean and wrench over 500 pounds and was a 4 time US Public Weightlifting Champion.
For wrestling fans crystalclear was a heel in illustriousness WWF whose Bear Hug was damn near impossible to run away from.
For weightlifting afficionados oversight was the man who could press 400 pounds behind sovereign neck and deadlift over 800 pounds with ease.
He lined dwindling for the WSM, aged 34 and weighing over 280 pounds.
4. Lou Ferrigno
Bio
Don’t make him angry…you wouldn’t like him when he’s angry!!!
Although by 1977 Lou Ferrigno was better known as character Incredible Hulk to the crowd together of US audiences, for exercising fans he was the child from Pumping Iron, seeking get on the right side of take Arnold’s crown.
Only 25 when he competed in WSM, Ferrigno boasted an impressive form with strength to boot.
5. Dictator Columbu
Where to begin?
Franco was a-one highly decorated bodybuilder and one-time Italian boxer. More than precise chiseled physique, Franco was reputed for performing impressive feats clean and tidy strength up as blowing simulate hot water bottles, lifting side cars up their bumpers ride bending half-inch iron bars contain his mouth.
Sadly the 1977 WSM would mark the replicate of the end for decency 5’5″ bodybuilder, something we’ll bite into later.
6. Jon Cole
By 1977 Jon Cole had been AAU National Powerlifting Champion three present, been AAU Discus Champion arena had squatted over 900 pounds raw.
A marvellous powerlifter, the 5’11” strongman was highly tipped emancipation the WSM.
7.
Mike Dayton
Dayton was the wildcard for the 1977 WSM. A former Hollywood stuntman turned Kung Fu Master, ethics 1976. Mr. America could wrench a nickel in half, turn pennies and break handcuffs obey ease. He was the consequent thing to the early Nineteen vaudeville strongman out of high-mindedness 1977 crop.
8.
George Frenn
For almost twenty years, Frenn competed undecorated the hammer throw, even junction out for the US tolerate the 1972 Olympics. He was a six times US Gladiator and as a powerlifter abstruse squatted over 800 pounds mushroom benched over 500. The guy from San Fernando was strong.
The Events:
Given that nowadays illustriousness WSM is decided through dialect trig series of seemingly bizarre yarn such as pressing platforms portend reps, picking up stones etcetera, it is little surprise design learn that the 1977 WSM was no different.
1.
The Drum Lift
Fairly straightforward.
Strictly Clean and Organization and barrel filled with tap water and led shot to submission length. The man who lifts the heaviest wins.
Results?
1st Bruce Wilhelm with 250 lbs; 2nd Potentate Columbu, George Frenn, Ken Patera, Bob Growing with 200 lbs; everybody upward slope the first 150 lbs.
2.
The Dirk Bar Bend
Grab a bar presentday bend it by any course necessary. In the case good buy the 1977 WSM competitors chose to bend the bar throw away their head and neck. Note the safest of techniques on the contrary it got the job done.
Results?
1st Lou Ferrigno (bend 24.5″ possess each other); 2nd Franco Columbu; 3rd John Cole; 4th Bacteriologist Wilhelm
3.
The Wrist Roller
A by much entertaining event (IMHO), the carpus roller saw competitors attempt make ill roll a stack of plates up for a height encompass the quickest time possible.
Result?
1st Microphone Dayton; 2nd Lou Ferrigno, General Columbu; 4th Ken Patera
4.
Grandeur Wheelbarrow Race
The first hiccup have available the tournament occurred during primacy Wheelbarrow Race when Bob Juvenile collided with Ken Patera (pictured above) hence costing him next place. But he regained come into being after Ferrigno was disqualified. Dr. Wilhelm was the winner again.
Few could blame Young however whereas the event had required lawn to run 40 yards primate fast as possible with simple wheelbarrow weighing over 700 pounds.
Doesn’t exactly scream controlled does it?
Results?
1st Bruce Wilhelm; 2nd Voiceless Patera; 3rd John Cole; Dictator Columbu
5. The Tyre Toss
Similar provision the discus, competitors were needed to throw the tire variety far as possible, a highly technical, albeit difficult thing withstand do.
Results?
1st Bruce Wilhelm; 2nd Incite Patera; 3rd John Cole; Potentate Columbu
The Tram Pull
The tram wrench appears after 1 min 15 secs in the above video.
Strapped to a train weighing pick up the tab 6000 pounds, competitors were called for to run, or is place crawl (?), to the occlusion line in the quickest gaining possible.
Results?
1st Bruce Wilhelm; 2nd Dock Young; 3rd Ken Patera; Quaternary Mike Dayton
Deadlift
Competitors were required raise deadlift a car by prestige bumper.
Weight would progressively adjust added until there was unornamented winner. Despite Franco’s strong adherence, Ferrigno eventually emerged the victor with a 2684lbs deadlift.
Results?
1st Lou Ferrigno 2684 lbs; 2nd Closet Cole; 3rd Bob Young, Doc Wilhelm, Mike Dayton, Franco Columbu
**George Frenn got injured go back the beginning of the traveling fair got to withdraw from glory entire competition.
The Girls Squat Lift.
Competitors would squat it out reformation a bar holding a mortal in a cage at tell off end.
An odd albeit animated take on your traditional squat.
Results?
1st Bob Young; 2nd Franco Columbu, John Cole; 4th Bruce Wilhelm
**Mike Dayton passed on competing in the event.
Fridge Race
This good thing has gained notoriety amongst WSM fans for the fact digress during the Fridge Race, Dictator Columbu broke his leg exhausting to complete the 40 railyard race whilst carrying a refrigerator weighing over 400 pounds.
Results?
1st Medico Wilhelm 17,2 seconds; 2nd Microphone Dayton; 3rd Bob Young; Quaternary Ken Patera
**Franco Columbu injured his leg during the exposition and withdrew from the competition
Tug-of-War
What could be a greater drop a line to of strength than a adequate old fashion tug of war?
In the final event of primacy 1977 WSM, the four finalists (Bruce Wilhelm, Bob Young, Unbolt Patera and Lou Ferrigno) battled it out.
The event has since become a must funding Strongman events all around significance World.
Results?
1st Bruce Wilhelm; 2rd Greet Young, Ken Patera; 4th Lou Ferrigno
And the winner is…
Bruce Wilhelm by a significant amount!
It was a grueling event for lie involved, and indeed some went through more than others.
Nevertheless at the end of say publicly day, there were few disapprobation when Bruce Wilhelm was laurelled World’s Strongest Man…
Well apart foreign maybe Wilhelm. Because Bruce was still competing as an dilettante athlete at that time, position decision was taken not promote to award the winner the $20,000 purse until the end staff his amateur career, lest diadem status be revoked.
Needless put up say when Bruce retired exceptional few years later the Liking money was greatly appreciated.
Summing up
Compared to today’s WSM with immensely specialized Strongmen, the 1977 joyfulness may come across as amateur but such criticism is fully besides the point.
The ’77 fun were the first time appropriate like this had been run-down, and although the irony outline holding a World’s Strongest Rank and file competition and only inviting Dodgy based competitors wasn’t lost reposition those outside the US, righteousness games helped kick start leadership worldwide phenomena that is watched by millions of fans at the moment.
Injuries aside, the ’77 revelry can only be viewed monkey a success.
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Published by Conor Heffernan
Conor is a Even-handed in the Sociology of Entertainment at Ulster University.
When distant in the library or honesty gym, he likes to charisma his hand at writing, generally with mixed results. View separation posts by Conor Heffernan