Olympic weightlifting for men dates to the very first Olympic games in Athens in 1896. The first iteration for women came in 2000 at the Sydney Games. It took until 1987 for the first world weightlifting championship for women versus 1891 for men. Likewise, the first recognizable meets for women only came in the 1970s… Continue reading Women’s Olympic Weightlifting in the United States: Part One
Katie Sandwina was a professional strong woman who performed in John Ringling's circuses in the early 1900s. She was celebrated for great feats of strength, such as carrying a 600-pound cannon on her back, and lesser ones, like executing the manual of arms with her 160-pound husband Max instead of a rifle. Sandwina was a… Continue reading Sarah Pileggi, ‘The Pleasure of Being the World’s Strongest Women’, (Sports Illustrated, 1977)
Conor Writing in 2024: Enjoy the below story everyone but I need to stress that the story of Sandwina defeating Sandow in a competition is completely fake. I have found no evidence of this contest and I am afraid it is untrue. This story now seems to have become internet lore and appeared in several… Continue reading Katie Sandwina: The Strongest Woman in the World
