World’s strongest man 1977.

[@TheMugenmunster]

I think Lou and Franco did a terrific job in the face of being written off as bodybuilders.

[@jonas2431]

Look at the later years mariuz pugenowski he was a body builder and won the title 5 times

[@davewheeler7679]

Really enjoyed seeing Franco and Lou in their prime.

[@aaronstein947]

What an amazing competition. SO interesting bringing in so many different types of strength athletes. It's great watching Lou and Franco be able to hang in there and complete and win events. Because of injuries things like this would NEVER happen today. Too many athletes would be afraid of getting hurt. Respect to ALL these competitors. Franco Columbu is definitely the pound for pound strongest in this competition. He only weighs 180 pounds.

[@jeanbaumgartner4052]

Amen 🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏 TO That One!AaronStein!

[@danorthsidemang3834]

Bruce Wilhelm didn't win the first two WSM competitions for nothing.

[@fezzik7619]

They still have this competition every year so I don’t know what you’re talking about.

[@intellivisionmaster7999]

@@fezzik7619he means that pro athletes won’t compete in this again. As opposed to WSM competitors who don’t play a pro sport other than the strongman contest.

[@russellgrimes3491]

Pro athletes won’t compete because pro athletes, like body builders and football players, can’t win. Feats of strength and power have become too specialized.

[@josephbellanca2770]

Franco unbelievable strength ..these guys outweighed him by over 100lbs..who knows what would have happened if the injury hadn’t stopped him in his prime! Forza Franco RIP ….

[@ATomRileyA]

Loved seeing paul anderson at the start, would have been amazing to have him in his prime competing in strongman, dude was insanely strong.

[@yourroyalhighness7662]

Perhaps the strongest man in history.

[@stonelifterheavy2720]

@@yourroyalhighness7662 He is widely considered to be the Strongest, or perhaps Louis Cyr.

[@CapAnson12345]

He would have done terrible in the cardio/speed events though. He would have easily won the squat event however.

[@Brey]

0:02 - Competitors 1:40 - Barrel Lift 14:19 - Bar Bend 19:44 - Wrist Roll (110lbs) 26:30 - Wheel Barrow Race (750lbs) 32:56 - Tire Toss 46:47 - Tram Pull 54:30 - Car Lift 1:08:03 - Squats 1:17:38 - Refrigerator Race 1:23:13 - Tug of War 1:28:52 - Winner 1:30:37 - Final Standings

[@williesnyder2899]

Great, enthusiastic commentary by Paul!! I still have treasured letters from him, in response to teenaged questions I asked. He was a great person!!

[@BG-pd6os]

Bruce Wilhelm doesn't get enough credit for the athlete he was. First American to snatch 400 lbs, 496 pound C&J, Silver medal in Snatch, 1976 Olympics. Bruce was athletically strong, he had plenty of brute strength, but he snatch , clean and jerk require much more. Also he could apply that strenght at something other than lifting weights, he should have written a book about his life, maybe he will!

[@gerlofholkema3110]

Indeed an awesome athlete

[@longfootbuddy]

he was fun to watch here

[@captainh3831]

With all his self aggrandizing talk and braggadocio, he didn't need to write a book.

[@TheMugenmunster]

bending quarters!?! Mike's grip strength had to be through the damn roof.

[@tommyboy1653]

He could tear a phone book in half.I trained with a friend of his and did a plumbing job for Dayton in the 80s and he was still training and strong.

[@user-eg3cx5oz2f]

Columbo was a beast!

[@Guitcad1]

I remember watching this when it aired (or possibly rebroadcast a few months later) because I was five and *_obsessed_* with the Incredible Hulk and I wanted to see Lou Ferrigno without his Hulk makeup and hear him talk (I didn't know at the time about his hearing and speech difficulties).

[@dududu5189]

Wow. You said very similar to what I was thinking! I too watched this as a young boy because Lou was in it. It was definitely repeated.

[@redoz9768]

This was very entertaining. Thanks for taking the time to upload this.

[@fezzik7619]

Notice football players were a lot smaller back then. In 1986 there was only ONE player over 300 lbs in the NFL, William “The Refrigerator” Perry. Now every roster has multiple linemen well over 300 with weight clauses in their contracts. Human evolution.

[@straingedays]

This has been the most surprisingly WSM that I've ever seen Plus being a wrestling fan, it's wild seeing a calm Ken Patera Plus Lou Ferrigno and the legendary Paul Anderson. WOW !! Thank You Gerlof, for finding this outstanding gem from '77

[@chadandrew9317]

I'm very impressed to see how this type of competition has evolved over the years

[@DennisGr]

this is how it all started. just inviting different strength athletes to see who would win.

[@bench_press]

Like first UFC.

[@mr.fanstastic9010]

this is back when men were men

[@jeanbaumgartner4052]

Thanks For Sharing This Video 📹!

[@TheMugenmunster]

Franco you're a warrior man.

[@arinzeikeliani961]

Arnold is quite a smart man knowing that if he had competed here, these guys would have messed him up

[@dududu5189]

Yes, besides Franco & Lou were always able to outlift him.

[@Manusia.satu1]

Nah. He not weak. He just doesn't want to get injured. He get more than enough money in bodybuilding

[@captainh3831]

And yet neither Franco or Lou got any visible respect from Bruce Wilhelm, because they were bodybuilders. And Lou outlifted him in the car lift/ deadlift....what happened, Bruce?

[@Tom-V]

No kidding!

[@Rockhound6165]

Bob Young was a part of that great Cardinals offensive line with Conrad Dobler, Dan Dierdorf, Tom Banks, and Roger Finnie. In 1975 Jim Hart was sacked 6 times all season and he wasn't exactly fleet of foot. And between 1974-1977 this line allowed Hart to be sacked a combined 52 times. To put this into perspective, in 2023 the 49ers and Rams allowed 34 sacks and were the least sacked teams. This line allowed a shade more than that(38) in 3 complete seasons from 1975-77.

[@bigbudgaming9839]

Ferigno was unlucky in this one, he easily could of placed 2nd if he hadn't of used his legs in the barrel lift and tripped on the wheelbarrow race

[@intellivisionmaster7999]

He didn’t trip. He lunged for the finish line - I slowed it down watched it frame by frame and he DID in fact have his hands on the handles when the wheel crossed the line. He was hosed!

[@massimilianomonimohaerlamo6736]

Thanks Gerlof! Lovely storic video!

[@titoramone4465]

I ❤ this!

[@93Beefcake]

So sad for columbo with that fridge face what a great guy rip

[@gottagift]

The thing i like most is that i didn't see a single tattoo among them. And this was in the day when Herve Villechaize starred as Tattoo....

[@gavydj]

Thanks for difusión this materials for the support at sports live forever 🏋🏼‍♀️✨✨🧠💪🛸🏋🏼‍♀️🇨🇴

[@boxcarent.3147]

Franco Colombo is the strongest guy . He only about 190 lbs at about 5.5 hanging in there with huge guys for that era.

[@Ian-if2lf]

cant argue we that

[@captainh3831]

Franco lifted some amazng poundages in all three powerlifts during his career.

[@randybarnett2308]

He's awesome I met him once, and he gave me some lifting advice I use to this day!💪😀

[@kdoesgaming5039]

@@randybarnett2308 oh wow that’s awesome! When about did you meet him

[@randybarnett2308]

@@kdoesgaming5039 way back in 1979!

[@brianculp3113]

I would love to see todays strongmen perform these events 😆

[@MikeJohnMentzer]

Unlike bodybuilding , strongmen have evolved in a beter way I think people like Brian ,Eddie or Big Z would just ace these old WSMs

[@mogenvonbogel7342]

They would die of a heart attack

[@oceanbanana4341]

​@@mogenvonbogel7342 do you not watch modern strongman? They'd be fine

[@boxcarent.3147]

Awesome contest , great great competitors and athletes.

[@KonElKent]

There's a genuine camaraderie that is often missing in more recent competitions. I'm sure that is, in part, an issue with modern producers editing to amp up the drama, but it's a nice change of pace. I'd come in dead last in every event, but I'd be thrilled to compete with these guys just for the fun.

[@chrismchone3111]

Huge respect for Mike Dayton going toe to toe with much bigger beasts! He coulda beat the whole crew down.

[@mikichicago1200]

Big Lou rules 💪

[@johnberrio1925]

Franco was a savage.....the teeth bar bend.....damn

[@mannyob7164]

only ones that are alive is bruce, ken, Lou, i don’t know about mike Dayton, sadly the rest have past away.

[@longfootbuddy]

i didnt expect to see paul anderson

[@bigbudgaming9839]

Fun fact; the straps loosened on Columbo in the fridge race causing his knee to blowout, he sued successfully for just shy of $1 million dollars.

[@rubba6818]

Lol I do not believe you, do you perhaps have a reference for this info?

[@intellivisionmaster7999]

Ken patera sued his barber for a million dollars and won, for having that haircut on national TV.

[@funkEfresh94]

10:17 Easily one of the best grinds in the history of strongman 👌👌

[@marywilhelm5857]

Bruce Wilhelm is my cousin. He was a weightlifter, shot put and discuss thrower. That is what I am now. I am as of right now in high school as a freshman and I am one of the strongest freshman in the state. Man..... This goes to tell how genes travel throughout the years.

[@wingerding]

@44_CSE_Ayush Das can't get their lies straight

[@awallner1]

@43_CSE_Ayush Das Well he could be a second or third cousin. My cousins in those hereditary categories are the same age as my uncle. She didn't specify if he was her father's cousin.

[@AdamPalomino]

@43_CSE_Ayush Das It's not even a claim I'd want to make, he came across as a classless bully in this competition

[@captainh3831]

Do you have his braggadocio?

[@anthonyluisi7096]

@@AdamPalomino , especially more so In the other competition with Big Don Reinhoudt … Bruce was especially obnoxious.. and Don was and is a class act ..

[@strong8889]

Back when it was called worlds strongest men

[@russellgrimes3491]

I honestly don’t even think they were the world’s strongest men. Competitions like these were more for entertainment value back then. Inviting football players and professional wrestlers to the event really diminished the event’s integrity. In today’s competition, none of these guys would ever stand a chance.

[@danmeme7740]

"With the exception of the body builders" They kept up pretty damn good for mainly training to look good. Could you imagine if Lou and Franco only trained for power lifting? They would no doubt have won this. Franco was much stronger then you pound for pound Bruce, much stronger. He only weighted 185 and you weighed about 330-340.

[@mcribbit8985]

0:05 Franco Columbo. 14:43 Franco Columbu. 15:10 Franco Columbu. 2:38 Franco Columbo. 19:06 Franco Columbu. What the heck how can that happen ?.

[@erichenriksbo3379]

Yes and Brent Musburger pronouncing his name Columbo the whole competition. I always remembered him as Columbo but the internet has wiped that from history apparently

[@isaaczackary364]

1:08:25 *dies* my days as a demonstrator are over what an entertaining commentator

[@ronalddunn291]

Franco is strong but Lou was the strongest man where was Bill when it comes to reaching down and picking up real weight? I didn't hear any bragging bill what happened? 👉💪Lou Ferrigno 👍!

[@RogueCylon]

This was a bit of a joke in regards to worlds strongest man, all American centric. Kind of like baseball and Super Bowl world champs. As soon as they allowed other countries in the tables completely turned.

[@gavydj]

World's Strongest Mans 🏋🏼‍♀️🛸🧠💪✨✨✨📖⚙️ Grandes #historias 📖🏋🏼‍♀️🛸🙋🏻‍♂️

[@megamouthspike1930]

Ken Patera actually told the producers of this show that he had a "bad back", and they still allowed him to compete. Even if Ken had signed a waiver, it was still unconscionable to allow him to compete in an event like this, because he could have dropped a heavy barrel onto his head.

[@russellgrimes3491]

It shows how ridiculous the competition was. It was primarily for entertainment value. None of these guys would have stood a chance against today’s strongest men. I don’t even think these guys were the strongest in the jerks at the time.

[@natureboy1313]

I recall him being asked how long has he had that bad back. And he said oh since about a week back......

[@pauloyeghe1637]

This competition is far better than the modern day.Its more interesting bringing athletes from each sport at the top of their game. The events are interesting that it's not just about brute strength like nowadays but technique must be added to win. Is lou ferigno the sane as thor in 2020? Anyway it evens things out with competitors like the small but muscular Franco Columbu.....my favourite

[@jphenry3404]

It's not at all 'just about brute strength' in the current WSM, plenty of technique necessary, and it hasn't got the sideshow-like events from back then anymore. The sport has evolved, and in a good way imo

[@pauloyeghe1637]

@@jphenry3404 go away and leave us alone with your comment. Instead of you posting you going around preaching to me. Get lost and go post your own original comment Instead of debates

[@jphenry3404]

@@pauloyeghe1637 You give your opinion, I give mine. Maybe don't comment on things in a public forum if you don't want any discourse to come out of it.

[@oceanbanana4341]

If the weights were like they were back then it would all be cardio for the guys

[@pauloyeghe1637]

@@oceanbanana4341 your talking a totally different topic. It amazes me how people find my comments a year old. Be a REAL PERSON and POST YOUR OWN COMMENTS??? STOP TROLLING AND SEARCHING FOR REPLY TO

[@bromoenook356]

seein lou n franco do so well makes me wonder what ronnie wouldve been like in wsm i think the sports have ssperated themselves drastically since then tho

[@funnyperson4016]

I remember seeing a replay of one of these things when I was a kid “Holy crap he moved a car, he moved a car. No it’s a bus wtf?!

[@GrumpaGladstone1809]

WSM goes way back to before capital letters.

[@danorthsidemang3834]

Bruce Wilhelm would have been MONEY as a heel in professional wrestling. He was just as talented as his buddy Ken Patera but with three times the charisma.

[@danorthsidemang3834]

​@FITNESSOVER45Unless you were working there on that night, you're lying. The McDonald's was closed at the time of the incident.

[@Steve-ck6mg]

The first years it was more like the strongest man of the English speaking countries. Later it was the real worlds strongest man contest!

[@pabloscolumbia8800]

Ken looks like one of jeffery eppisteins friends

[@wheelmanstan]

Lou shoulda stuck with strongman I think.

[@fezzik7619]

$10,000 in 1977 translates to $50,300 today so it was some serious money for a couple of days of competition.

[@johnberrio1925]

tough hands from bending quarters.......WHAT THE HELL

[@guntertorfs6486]

Wilhelm is wrong about a bull being more powerful than a horse : a Belgian draft horse is considerably stronger than a bull at the same weight. Bit of a dick as well.

[@robertjrobicheau8456]

110lb wrist roll is a wild event. I don't believe it was ever used again.

[@russellgrimes3491]

It was used the next year.

[@tenfourproductionsllc]

1:26:40 - Ken Patera gets pawned in his own game here.

[@patrickcullen2714]

Why did they have them stand on those pads for the car lift? Does it make it harder or way more?

[@timt8029]

I don't think they took onto consideration the percentages as a person gets shorter. Franco is starting out at a really awkward position. I think Lou's longer arms and legs helped as well. He was able to get in a good position above the bumper. Plus he's crazy strong.

[@bromoenook356]

wow

[@ur-inannak9565]

The squat ROM seems inconsistent.

[@secretariatslew]

Excessive knee bend. wow they made it a strict press.

[@MrKimoMigo]

✊Yea✊

[@captainbiceps8278]

I lifted for biceps🦾 140 kg. Can you?

[@russellgrimes3491]

Jon Kolb won the wrist roll event the next year with an extraordinary time. Had he entered this event, he would have won the wrist roll. It goes to show that the strongest men were not necessarily in this competition, so take the results with a grain of salt. It is entertaining, but I don’t think the winner was strongest man in the world.

[@pabl841]

Franco was winning...

[@VATION3RD-GEN-X-GARAGE]

Bruce Wilhelm lost the first round on the barrel lift he didn't hold the keg to his chest for 2 seconds either

[@caza728]

Why didn’t they show the two bodybuilders throwing the tire?

[@gerlofholkema3110]

not good enough ?

[@phobiazzzero4935]

wtf they are in their early 30`s and look 50+

[@gerlofholkema3110]

phobiazzzero yu are 60+ ???

[@dan3knight]

1:16:04 WTH!! Is that Frankenstein hitting on some chick??

[@oceanbanana4341]

Lmao

[@1vootman]

Id rather sacrifice a little bit in strength and have a bodybuilders physique

[@purpleaki1277]

Franco was a beast, the strongest there pound for pound

[@JoseDorneles-cb1zf]

Lou ferrigno se saiu muito melhor que os próprios profissionais que Arnold Schwarzenegger se participasse teria perdido facilmente para lou ferrigno lou tinha muita força

[@Matthewsoftball]

Million dollar man and Rick Flair doing strong man

[@intellivisionmaster7999]

Yes!!! Every time he prepped for a lift I was thinking here’s Ted Dibiase ready to lift!

[@danorthsidemang3834]

I wonder what Vince FcMan Sr. thought about 37:08

[@milad20001]

wow franco culumbo was just 182 pounds . he is most strong man ever ❤

[@Tom-V]

Man the officiating back then wasn't the best. Today if you still have time left you're able to make another attempt. This was the first WSM but it's unfortunate the judging/officiating couldn't have been better.

[@Tom-V]

But I do wanna say it's still cool watching. Don't wanna be a total Karen here.

[@SKlein-kc6pl]

Tug of war XD wtf

[@МаратФахрутдинов-с1ц]

Перевели бы на русский язык , с удовольствием просмотрел бы !

[@coloradomountainman8659]

Commentators for this event back then were annoying as hell, but today they are ten times worse.

[@BelikeMike47]

1:28:56 picked his ass up 😂

[@danorthsidemang3834]

29:46 😆

[@danorthsidemang3834]

35:52 "DAAAAHHHH"

[@nikodempedersen8133]

Rhis os the boggest joke pf strpngman ever 😂 loft beer cans , bemch a small metal stick , pull a small car loftong light as fuck 😂

[@danorthsidemang3834]

17:09 "FOUL"

[@danorthsidemang3834]

1:00:09 Me taking my morning shit

[@danorthsidemang3834]

34:11 LOL

[@danorthsidemang3834]

35:18

[@danorthsidemang3834]

1:19:41

[@danorthsidemang3834]

1:12:55

[@danorthsidemang3834]

1:12:59 LOL

[@justinriley8651]

Franco! the world's flatest man!

[@jD-je3ry]

Bodybuilding was more masculine

[@VinchenzoC]

Oh, no. This must be the one where Franco snapped his tibia. JH Christ.

[@danorthsidemang3834]

36:09

[@danorthsidemang3834]

41:21

[@danorthsidemang3834]

1:26:10

[@danorthsidemang3834]

41:51