Hermann Görner

Hermann Görner, (April 13, 1891 – June 29, 1956) was a famous German strongman. Görner performed in various countries and achieved feats of strength rarely matched to this day, most notably in lifts requiring exceptional gripping strength.

Early years

Görner 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.

Professional strong man

Despite being injured by shrapnel and losing an eye during World War One, Görner continued his career to become a professional strong man in 1921, touring 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.

Feats of Strength

Among Hermann Görner's many feats of strength were the following notable lifts:

- One-handed deadlift 734.5lbs, July 20, 1920, Dresden, Germany [http://books.google.co.uk/books?client=firefox-a&id=TuGxCHuBoaoC&dq=%22Hermann+G%C3%B6rner%22&q=%22Hermann+G%C3%B6rner%22&pgis=1#search Guiness Book of Records] , 1981]

- deadlift 595.5lbs using just 2 fingers of each hand, 1920.

- pinch lift 111 lbs, 1934.

- Leg pressing 24 men, total weight 4123lb, on a plank with the soles of his feet, 1921.

"Goerner The Mighty"

Görner's life is documented in a 1951 book by Ed Müller, "Goerner The Mighty"."Goerner the Mighty"] , Edgar Mueller, Vulcan Publishing, Leeds, 1951]

Later years

A hand injury from a fall in 1929 somewhat curtailed his career in favour of training rather than lifting, but Görner continued to lift until World War Two. He was for a while held in a concentration camp but 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.

References

*Webster, David B. 1976. "The Iron Game" Irvine Press.

External links

* [http://www.oldtimestrongman.com/blog/labels/Hermann%20Goerner.html Hermann Görner's bridge feat and 2 finger deadlift]
* [http://www.oldtimestrongman.com/hermanngoerners_secret.html Looks at Goerner's lifting techniques]