LEGENDS OF STRENGTH: PAUL ANDERSON — THE MAN WHO SQUATTED THE EARTH
“If you don’t have what it takes, invent it.”
— Paul Anderson
Before PEDs, power racks, or even powerlifting itself, Paul Anderson was squatting more than anyone in history. He didn’t just break records — he reset reality.
With thighs like oil drums and a barbell across his back, Anderson didn’t lift weights. He moved the Earth.
ORIGINS: THE SON OF A BLACKSMITH
Born in 1932 in Georgia, USA, Anderson grew up on meat, milk, and manual labour. He wasn’t genetically gifted in the modern sense — he built himself through relentless trial, error, and iron.
He trained with concrete blocks, barrels, and custom-built squat racks in his backyard. Early on, he realised his body responded differently to stress: he could lift heavy, daily, and recover like no one else.
By his early 20s, he was already outlifting Olympic champions.
THE 1,200+ LB BACKLIFT: HUMANLY IMPOSSIBLE?
Anderson’s most legendary feat came in 1957:
A backlift of 6,270 lbs (2,840 kg).
Yes, that’s six thousand pounds — a platform filled with people and weights, lifted on his back using a support harness.
It was witnessed and documented, but never officially sanctioned due to the setup. Still, it’s widely considered one of the heaviest lifts ever performed by a human being.
OTHER MONSTROUS FEATS
Paul Anderson’s stats sound like comic book fiction:
Squat: 1,200+ lbs (partial, supported)
Full back squat: 900+ lbs raw
Front squat: 600+ lbs
Clean & jerk: 420 lbs (unofficial world record at the time)
Push press: 485 lbs
Could walk with 400+ lbs overhead like it was nothing
He was a human forklift — and made it look easy.
OLYMPIC DOMINANCE & NATIONAL HERO STATUS
Anderson represented the USA in the 1956 Melbourne Olympics and took gold in the 90+ kg class in weightlifting.
He was also the first American to defeat the Soviets in Olympic lifting during the Cold War era, turning him into a national symbol of strength.
TRAINING PHILOSOPHY: SIMPLE, SAVAGE, AND EFFECTIVE
Anderson didn’t train for aesthetics. He trained for domination.
Heavy squats every week, often multiple times per week
Lots of isometric holds, thick bars, odd-object lifts
High-calorie, high-volume diet (rumoured to be 15,000+ kcal per day)
Built his lifts around pure force production, not perfect form
He was anti-fragile before the term existed.
LEGACY BEYOND STRENGTH
Later in life, Anderson dedicated himself to charity and youth education, founding the Paul Anderson Youth Home to help troubled young men.
He became a preacher, speaker, and national advocate for discipline and hard work.
When he passed in 1994, he left behind more than records. He left a standard.
JMSTRENGTH’S TAKE: WHY ANDERSON STILL MATTERS
Anderson wasn’t sculpted. He wasn’t flashy. He was a walking monolith.
He proved you don’t need perfect conditions, gear, or science to be strong. You need grit, intent, and the willingness to endure more than the next man.
At JMSTRENGTH, that’s gospel.
Anderson didn’t follow the rules. He rewrote them. With steel.
ANDERSON AT A GLANCE
| ATTRIBUTE | DETAIL |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Paul Edward Anderson |
| Born | October 17, 1932 – Georgia, USA |
| Height / Weight | 5'9" / 350 lbs+ |
| Signature Feat | 6,270 lb backlift (1957) |
| Other Feats | 900+ lb squat, 420 lb clean & jerk, 485 lb push press |
| Legacy | Olympic gold medalist, pioneer of American strength culture |
| Died | August 15, 1994 (age 61) |