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Louis CyrFrench-Canadian strongman and wrestler
Date of Birth: 11.10.1863
Country:  Canada |
Content:
- Louis Cyr: A Colossus of Strength
- The Rise of a Strongman
- Marriage and Professional Breakthrough
- A Tavern and Sporting Haven
- Documented Feats of Strength
- The "Iron Horse" of Ottawa
- Conquering England
- Legacy and Later Years
Louis Cyr: A Colossus of Strength
Early Life and Uncanny PowerCyprien Noé Cyr, later known as Louis Cyr, was born on October 11, 1863, in Quebec, Canada. His extraordinary strength became apparent at a young age, a trait inherited from his towering mother and grandfather. By the age of 12, Louis was working in a lumber camp during winters while toiling on the family farm during the rest of the year.
Inspired by the legendary Greek athlete Milo of Croton, who carried a calf on his shoulders as it grew into a bull, Cyr decided to emulate this feat. However, he substituted grain sacks for the calf, gradually increasing the weight and distance he carried.
The Rise of a Strongman
Cyr's career as a strongman began after he rescued a farmer's wagon from a swamp. His reputation spread, leading to a challenge from Michaud, Quebec's reigning strongest man. Cyr emerged victorious after lifting an immense 480-pound granite boulder. In 1878, the Cyr family relocated to Lowell, Massachusetts. At a Boston competition, the 18-year-old Cyr, weighing over 230 pounds, astounded the crowd by lifting a 1,500-pound horse.
Marriage and Professional Breakthrough
In 1882, Cyr married the petite Mélina Courtois. Encouraged by friends, he embarked on a challenging path as a professional strongman. He toured Quebec with a troupe featuring a wrestler, boxer, and weightlifter. When financial returns proved meager, Cyr sought alternative employment. In a dangerous knife fight, he disarmed the attackers and made a citizen's arrest, leading to his recruitment into the Montreal police force from 1883 to 1885.
A Tavern and Sporting Haven
Later, Cyr acquired a tavern, where he established a gymnasium that became a Mecca for weightlifters and wrestlers. With the guidance of renowned sports promoter Richard K. Fox, Cyr embarked on a remarkable reign of record-breaking victories and title conquests from approximately 1885 to 1891, dethroning notables such as Sebastian Miller, August Johnson, and Richard Pennell.
Documented Feats of Strength
While many tales of Cyr's achievements are likely embellished over the years, several feats have been independently verified. In 1895, he supported 18 men (weighing a total of 4,336 pounds) on a platform balanced on his back. Other feats included:
Lifting a 162-pound dumbbell one-handed (overhead) 36 times consecutively
Deadlifting 1,900 pounds with both hands, 998 pounds with one hand, and 555 pounds with one finger
Holding back four draft horses (two on each arm) while handlers whipped them to pull with greater force
The "Iron Horse" of Ottawa
While in Ottawa, Cyr volunteered to patrol with police officers hunting a local gang. Initially dismissed due to his size, he challenged the officers to a footrace and outran most of them, earning their respect. Cyr was a man of great appetites, consuming food for four average men in one sitting. His weight fluctuated, reaching 400 pounds in his later years.
Conquering England
In January 1892, Cyr and his manager, Horace Barre, took their act to England. They attracted 5,000 spectators at London's Royal Aquarium, where Cyr engaged in wrestling matches against world-renowned opponents. Other strongmen in attendance witnessed his prowess and wagered bets of up to 1,000 pounds sterling.
Cyr's right-handed dumbbell press of 273 pounds on January 19, 1892, remained unmatched for decades. Later, his brother-in-law loaned the dumbbell for a month, during which over 500 men attempted the lift without success.
Legacy and Later Years
Retiring in 1904 due to health issues stemming from overeating and reduced activity, Cyr managed to lose significant weight and triumphed in a final bout against Hector De Carrie. Often hailed as the "Strongest Man Who Ever Lived," Louis Cyr succumbed to chronic nephritis on November 10, 1912, in Montreal. His funeral drew mourners from across Canada, and floral tributes arrived from around the world.
Cyr's life and achievements were immortalized in the 2013 biopic "Louis Cyr," where Antoine Bertrand portrayed the legendary strongman.
