Manfred_Hoeberl
Manfred Hoeberl (German: [ˈmanfreːt ˈhuːbɛrl]; born 12 May 1964) is an Austrian former strongman and powerlifter who was known as having the largest arms in the world during the early-mid 1990s.[1] Hoeberl was born in the same town as bodybuilding legend and former Governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger.[1]
Manfred Hoeberl | |
|---|---|
| Born | Manfred Hoeberl (1964-05-12) 12 May 1964 (age 59) |
| Occupation | Strongman Powerlifter |
| Height | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) |
| Title | 7× Austria's Strongest Man 2× Europe's Strongest Man |
| Competition record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Strongman | ||
Representing  Austria | ||
| World's Strongest Man | ||
| 8th | 1991 World's Strongest Man | |
| 4th | 1993 World's Strongest Man | |
| 2nd | 1994 World's Strongest Man | |
| Europe's Strongest Man | ||
| 1st | 1993 | |
| 1st | 1994 | |
| European Hercules | ||
| 3rd | 1993 | |
| 2nd | 1994 | |
| 10th | 1997 | |
| World Strongman Challenge | ||
| 2nd | 1994 | |
| 3rd | 1996 | |
| Austria's Strongest Man | ||
| 1st | 1989 | |
| 1st | 1990 | |
| 1st | 1991 | |
| 1st | 1992 | |
| 1st | 1993 | |
| 1st | 1994 | |
| 1st | 1996 | |
| World's Strongest Team | ||
| 6th | 1997 | |
| European Muscle Power Championships | ||
| 1st | 1993 | |
| 1st | 1994 | |
| World Muscle Power Championships | ||
| 1st | 1993 | |
| 1st | 1994 | |
| Strongest Man on Earth | ||
| 1st | 1994 | |
| World Mighty Man | ||
| 5th | 1992 | |
| 4th | 1993 | |
Hoeberl won the Europe's Strongest Man twice (1993, 1994), the World Muscle Power Classic twice (1993, 1994) and was runner up at the 1994 World's Strongest Man competition, narrowly missing the title to Magnús Ver Magnússon by 0.87 seconds in the final Atlas Stones event. Hoeberl competed in the World's Strongest Man finals in 1991 and 1993, finishing 8th and 4th respectively.[2]
Hoeberl won Austria's Strongest Man 7 times, from 1989-1994 & 1996.[3]
In the early 1990s Hoeberl claimed to have the largest arms in the world. At the 1994 Arnold Schwarzenegger Classic, bodybuilding journalist Joe Roark measured Hoeberl's upper arm to be 25.75 inches (65.4 cm) cold. Right after Hoeberl curled a 150 lb. dumbbell for several reps and was re-measured at 26 inches (66 cm) pumped. After the measurement Roark claimed Hoeberl was the first man in history to have an upper arm girth three times the size of his wrist circumference.[4]
Shortly after this, Hoeberl co-wrote his first book 10 Minutes to Massive Arms.[5]
Hoeberl was officially certified on the No. 3 Captains of Crush gripper in 1997[6] and was famous for his world class grip strength.
- Bench Press: 285 kg (628 lb) raw[7]
- Squat: 360 kg (794 lb) raw[7]
- Silver Dollar Deadlift: 390 kg (860 lb) raw (1994 World's Strongest Man)
- Log press: 150 kg (331 lb) (1994 Strongest Man on Earth)
- Leviathan press (60° incline Log press): 110 kg (243 lb) x 19 reps (1993 World's Strongest Man)
- Rock press: 120 kg (265 lb) (1994 Strongest Man on Earth)
- Trojan wall (weight over wall): 20 kg (44 lb) over a 5.6 metres wall (1993 World's Strongest Man)
- Weight over bar: 25 kg (55 lb) over a 5.33 metres bar (1993 World Viking Challenge)
- Truck pull: 7,000 kg (15,432 lb) + (4 x 55 drum barrels) for 20 metres in 24.60 seconds (1993 World's Strongest Man)
Shortly after the 1994 World's Strongest Man contest, Hoeberl was involved in a near fatal car crash in which he broke several limbs, and fractured his hip in 8 places. After months of rehabilitation, Hoeberl returned to strongman competition, although he never again competed in the World's Strongest Man. A severe biceps injury sustained during the 1997 European Hercules contest forced him into retirement.[1]
Hoeberl was involved in a second near fatal crash in 2002.[8] Hoeberl was involved in a head-on collision with a truck while riding a motorcycle at 80 miles per hour.[8] Due to his injuries Hoeberl is no longer weight training, he is quoted as saying "I am kinda lucky to be alive".[8]
- "Manfred Hoeberl". strongestman.billhenderson.org.
- "World's Strongest Man History". Archived from the original on January 22, 2009.
- "David Horne's World of Grip". www.davidhorne-gripmaster.com.
- Hoeberi, Manfred; Little, John; Wolff, Bob (1994). 10 Minutes to Massive Arms. ISBN 1885096038.
- "Certified list for No. 3, No. 3.5, and No. 4 Captains of Crush Grippers – IronMind". www.ironmind.com. Archived from the original on 2009-05-29.
- "Manfred Hoeberl: Looking Good and Doing Well". www.ironmind.com. Archived from the original on 2011-12-10.