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 JOHN GRIMEK THE MAN
“John
was born June 17, 1910, Died November 20th, 1998, at the
age of 88”.
"John Grimek, known as the Monarch of Muscle Dom
for five decades, was probably the most revered bodybuilder of all-time. Grimek was so far ahead of other bodybuilders that the rules had
to be changed after he won the Mr. America title in 1940 and 1941, to
prevent him from dominating the competition for years to come. In
addition to being the only two-time Mr. America, he was a national
champion and member of the United States Olympic weightlifting team in
Berlin (1936). He was chosen "Mr. Universe" at the 1948 Olympic
games in London, before going on to win the "Mr. USA" title in
Los Angeles in 1949 against the finest professional bodybuilders in the
world. The later victory left him as the undisputed best physique in the
world, and perhaps the best built man of all time. He retired as the only
bodybuilder in history who was never defeated in a contest.
“As great as his record was, it doesn't fully
account for the adulation he received. Perhaps it was greatness coming
along at the opportune time, but there was magic about Grimek. Much in demand at
universities all over the country, art instructors said they had never
seen the human form so beautifully put together as it was in John Grimek. Perhaps
even more remarkable was his nature. In spite of achieving almost godlike
status, Grimek remained a kind and humble man."
He was long known as the world's greatest
bodybuilder.
Weightlifting:
John Grimek's first
contest was the NJ State Championships in Newark, January 1934. He won
the heavyweight class with a 710 total.
His next contest was the 1934 Senior National
Championships in Brooklyn, NY. Again lifting as a heavyweight, he pressed
242.5, which exceeded John Mallo's American record by 11 lbs.
However, due to inadequate training on the quick lifts, Grimek bombed
out.
At the 1935 Senior Nationals in Cincinnati, Grimek placed second to Bill
Good with a 1072 (five lift) total.
With the 1936 Olympics approaching, Grimek decided to train with
the team in York, PA. It is unclear whether this was before or after
either of the Tryouts.
The Eastern Regional Olympic Weightlifting Tryouts
(run by the German Oak Sport Club) were held June 14, 1936 at Miller
Stadium in West New York, NJ. Grimek (representing Shore AC of Asbury Park) placed 3rd in the
heavyweight class with 770 (253+214+302).
The Combined Final tryouts were held July 3-4, 1936
in Philadelphia. They also served as the Senior Nationals. Grimek placed first in the
heavyweight class with 786 ˝ (258+220+308). He weighed 183 ˝ and again
lifted for the Shore AC of Asbury Park. He made the 1936 US Olympic Team.
At the 1936 Olympic games in Berlin, Grimek placed ninth at
heavyweight with a 782-˝ total. He succeeded with a 253 press.
Grimek returned to
New Jersey and again won the NJ State Championships on November 6, 1937.
It seems likely that he permanently moved to York in the summer of 1938.
In 1938
John vindicated himself and made the United States team that competed in
Vienna, Austria where he did some fine lifting. In fact, in making the
team, Grimek established a
new record in the press with 261 pounds. This press was actually a world
record, but was never officially credited to John because he weighed in
at one pound over the 198-pound bodyweight limit. As Venables said, “Grimek really trained
for this contest. He didn’t want to be left home and not make the trip
with his special pal, Steve Stanko. So he lifted like someone inspired,
and it worked!”
Modern strength and conditioning coaches may not
have had a profession if not for John C. Grimek
Bodybuilding Titles:
1939
·
York Perfect Man, Overall Winner
·
York Perfect Man, Medium, 1st
1940
·
Mr. America
- AAU, Winner
·
Mr. America
- AAU, Most Muscular, 1st
1941
·
Mr. America
- AAU, Winner
1946
·
Most Muscular Man in America, Winner
1948
·
Mr. Universe - NABBA, Winner
·
Mr. Universe - NABBA, Medium, 1st
1949
·
Mr. USA,
Winner
I think that John
Grimek is
the greatest bodybuilder who ever lived!”- Steve Reeves.
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Official Website www.1RingofFire.com
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