1977 World's Strongest Man
Competition information
Dates1977
VenueUniversal Studios
LocationLos Angeles, California
Country United States
Athletes participating8
Nations participating2
Champion(s)
United States Bruce Wilhelm

The 1977 World's Strongest Man was the 1st edition of World's Strongest Man and was held at the Universal Studios, California[1] and took place over ten weeks.[2] The title was won by Bruce Wilhelm from the United States. It was his first title. Bob Young from the United States finished second, and Ken Patera also from the United States third.

Background

Originally commissioned by Trans World International for CBS,[3] the concept for the World's Strongest Man event came from Scots David P. Webster and Douglas Edmunds.[4] Webster had earned himself a name as an event organiser through his involvement with the Highland games, while Edmunds had experience in professional shot put, discus, and caber tossing. The event was mostly developed for entertainment purposes.[5]

With no precedent for a worldwide 'Strongman' competition, the concept of a strongman competitor and event was new, and as such, the competitors came from a wide range of existing disciplines, including American football, powerlifting and track and field.[4] This meant that none of the competitors had ever trained for the events taking place during the competition.[5]

In addition, several of the events in which the athletes competed were poorly thought out or dangerous, as evidenced when Italian Franco Columbu fell during the penultimate event, the Fridge Race, dislocating his knee, forcing him to retire and putting him out of action for three years.[6] The fridge carry was not reintroduced to the competition until 2004, with a crossbar added to stabilise two fridges on either side of the athlete.[6]

Qualification

Qualification to the event was by invite only 'on the recommendation of experts.'[2]

Line-Up

Name Nationality Age Profession Notable Accolades
Jon Cole  USA 34 Weightlifter AAU US National Powerlifting Champion: 1968, 1970, 1972
Franco Columbu  Italy 34 Bodybuilder Mr. Olympia: 1976

IFBB Mr. World: 1971

IFBB Mr. Universe: 1971

IFBB Mr. Europe: 1971

Mike Dayton  USA 29 Stuntman

Kung Fu Artist

 Teen Mr. America: 1967

Kung Fu Master of Chi: 1976

Lou Ferrigno  USA 26 Bodybuilder

Actor

 IFBB Mr. Universe: 1973, 1974

IFBB Mr. America: 1973

Starred as The Incredible Hulk in the TV series.

George Frenn  USA 36 Hammer Thrower 1971 Pan American Games, Hammer Throw: Silver

1967 Pan American Games, Hammer Throw: Bronze

Ken Patera  USA 34 Weightlifter

Wrestler

 1971 Pan American Games, Weightlifting: Gold

1971 World Weightlifting Champions: Silver

Bruce Wilhelm  USA 31 Weightlifter AAU US Super Heavyweight Weightlifting Champion: 1975, 1976

1975 Pan American Games, Weightlifting: Silver

Bob Young  USA 35 American Footballer None at the time of the competition.

Results

# Name Nationality TOTAL
1 Bruce Wilhelm  United States 63.25
2 Bob Young  United States 43.25
3 Ken Patera  United States 34
4 Lou Ferrigno  United States 27.5
5 Franco Columbu  Italy 23.25
6 Jon Cole  United States 21.5
7 Mike Dayton  United States 19.25
8 George Frenn  United States 10

References

  1. ↑ "theworldsstrongestman.com". Archived from the original on 2010-03-29. Retrieved 2010-01-14.
  2. 1 2 HITstrongman (2014-06-07), 1977 World's Strongest Man, archived from the original on 2015-08-21, retrieved 2017-01-14
  3. ↑ "Testing for the World's Strongest Man" (PDF). Iron Game History. 11. 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-01-16. Retrieved 2017-01-13.
  4. 1 2 Heffernan, Conor (2015-04-15). "1977 and the birth of the World's Strongest Man". Physical Culture Study. Retrieved 2017-01-13.
  5. 1 2 Siem, Brooke (2016-07-06). "The 1977 World's Strongest Man Is the Greatest Thing Since Sliced SPAM - BarBend". BarBend. Retrieved 2017-01-13.
  6. 1 2 "The Worlds Strongest Man Classics 1977 - Franco Columbu's tragic fridge race". World's Strongest Man. 2015-06-02. Retrieved 2017-01-13.
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