# How strong can a human get? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 25, 2009, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-strong-can-a-human-get/500926 "2009-06-25T12:50:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![wsoldier182](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/90db22/32.png) [@wsoldier182](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wsoldier182)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2009, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-strong-can-a-human-get/500926/1 "2009-06-25T12:50:46Z")
1. Without steroids,HGH or other performance enhancing drugs. 2. No adrenaline surge (i.e. fight or flight response) 3. No creatine Protein shakes and weight gainer are okay. Basically, lets just say it’s a guy that does nothing but eat and lift. ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2009, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-strong-can-a-human-get/500926/2 "2009-06-25T13:22:44Z")
The world records for the three powerlifts are 1169 for the squat, slightly over 1000 for the deadlift, and somewhere between 750-800 for the bench press (that’s without a shirt). There are almost certainly steroids involved in some of those records, but at that level, it’s all but impossible to find anyone who’s 100% drug-free. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2009, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-strong-can-a-human-get/500926/3 "2009-06-25T13:35:24Z")
The greatest weight ever raised by a human being is 6.270 lbs., by Paul Anderson, July 10, 1957 at the Ford Motor plant in Tacoma GA. No wraps, no belt, no steroids, no super-suit. Paul, I think, approached the limit of how strong a human can get. He was about 5’6" and about 370 lbs. at his peak. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2009, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-strong-can-a-human-get/500926/4 "2009-06-25T13:43:42Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > The greatest weight ever raised by a human being is 6.270 lbs., by Paul Anderson, July 10, 1957 at the Ford Motor plant in Tacoma GA. No wraps, no belt, no steroids, no super-suit. > > Paul, I think, approached the limit of how strong a human can get. He was about 5’6" and about 370 lbs. at his peak. > > Regards, > Shodan No steroids? Not available yet? ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2009, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-strong-can-a-human-get/500926/5 "2009-06-25T13:59:55Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > The greatest weight ever raised by a human being is 6.270 lbs., by Paul Anderson, July 10, 1957 at the Ford Motor plant in Tacoma GA. No wraps, no belt, no steroids, no super-suit. > > Paul, I think, approached the limit of how strong a human can get. He was about 5’6" and about 370 lbs. at his peak. > > Regards, > Shodan 6.27 pounds is decidedly unimpressive. My three year old can lift that much. ---
**Author:** ![smiling\_bandit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2009, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-strong-can-a-human-get/500926/6 "2009-06-25T14:04:56Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > The greatest weight ever raised by a human being is 6.270 lbs., by Paul Anderson, July 10, 1957 at the Ford Motor plant in Tacoma GA. No wraps, no belt, no steroids, no super-suit. > > Paul, I think, approached the limit of how strong a human can get. He was about 5’6" and about 370 lbs. at his peak. > > Regards, > Shodan Wow, the human race is weaker than I thought. I just lifted 7.5 lbs without even trying! Humanity, fear your new alien overlord, for I have come to visit my wrath and steal your smiles for my unstoppable armada! ---
**Author:** ![wsoldier182](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/90db22/32.png) [@wsoldier182](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wsoldier182)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2009, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-strong-can-a-human-get/500926/7 "2009-06-25T14:26:07Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > 6.27 pounds is decidedly unimpressive. My three year old can lift that much. I’ll assume you’re being sarcastic, because I think he means 6,270. This is who he is referring to btw > **[Paul Anderson (weightlifter)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Edward_Anderson)** > > Paul Edward Anderson (October 17, 1932 – August 15, 1994) was an American weightlifter, professional wrestler, powerlifter and strongman. During the 1950s, he was an Olympic gold medalist, a world champion, and a two-time national Olympic weightlifting champion. > Anderson contributed significantly to the development of competitive powerlifting in the 1960s. Due to his many world records and outstanding feats of strength specially for his time, he has often been called "the strongest man who ev... ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2009, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-strong-can-a-human-get/500926/8 "2009-06-25T15:14:35Z")
> [@Philster](#): > > No steroids? Not available yet? The first synthetic anabolic steroid was Dianabol, which was approved by the FDA in 1958 ([cite](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anabolic_steroid)). So steroids would not have been as easily available to Paul as they are nowadays. Paul Anderson was Christian, and opposed to the non-medical use of drugs of all kinds. Plus he didn’t need them - he was insanely strong. David Willoughby, who made a study of anthropometrics on strength athletes, said that Anderson was nearly ideally built to lift heavy weights - short, a huge waist and 35" thighs. I have a picture of Paul squatting 900 lbs. in an exhibition - no belt, no knee wraps, no supersuit, and it was meet-legal depth. With wraps and a suit, I bet he could have reached 1250. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![SmashTheState](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@SmashTheState](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmashTheState)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2009, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-strong-can-a-human-get/500926/9 "2009-06-25T16:54:47Z")
I used to work at a homeless shelter. I’m 6’5" and roughly the size and shape of refrigerator, which is why they put me to work in the program for homeless people with serious mental illness, substance abuse problems, and a history of violence. You couldn’t even get in the front door unless you had already been banned from every other shelter in the city. And among many other memories I took with me was seeing a tiny schizophrenic woman, all skin and bones and looking like a very, very intense ostrich, lift a full-sized couch over her head and throw it like a beanbag. I know for a fact that, large and strong as I am, there is no way I could do what she did. I know you mention “no adrenaline,” but athletes train specifically to access what is generally referred to as hysterical strength. Under ordinary circumstances our own brains prevent us from using the full strength of our muscles, lest we break our own bones. I suspect that while modern sport science has allowed athletes to partially tap this reservoir, we have by no means completely unlocked it. However strong “maximum strength” is today, it will probably continue to increase in the future. ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2009, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-strong-can-a-human-get/500926/10 "2009-06-25T16:58:25Z")
Not as much as you might think. No matter how strong your muscles are, you’re limited by the strength of the connective tissues that hold everything together. A lot of folks run into problems there once they get up above 600 pound squats. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2009, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-strong-can-a-human-get/500926/11 "2009-06-25T17:20:06Z")
> [@ultrafilter](#): > > Not as much as you might think. No matter how strong your muscles are, you’re limited by the strength of the connective tissues that hold everything together. A lot of folks run into problems there once they get up above 600 pound squats. True. You also run into problems of specialization, because anatomical features that are good for one lift sometimes conflict with performance in other lifts. [Lamar Gant](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lamar_Gant), umpteen times world powerlifting champion in the 80s, was one of the great deadlifters of all times. He had long arms and scoliosis, so his spine would bend when he deadlifted and his range of motion in the deadlift was only six or eight inches. But long arms are a disadvantage in lifts like overhead presses. [Naum Suleymanoglu](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naim_Suleymanoglu), three time Olympic gold medalist in weightlifting, was only 4’9" with stubby arms. An over head press for him was only a couple inches over his head. But that is an advantage because he didn’t have to move the weight very far. I mentioned Paul Anderson because he was good at many of the sheer strength lifts - not power, strength. Squats, Olympic press, bench press, back lifts - he could outdo almost everyone in the world on things like that. He had small hands, though, so he was not an all-time great at the deadlift. Plus, his good friend Bob Peoples held the deadlift record, and Paul wanted to leave that to him. In cleans, Paul had the same advantage that Vasileey Alexeyev later had. His big gut would push on the tops of his thighs when he bent over to take hold, and assist him in cleaning the weight to the shoulders. The effect is similar to bracing your hands on your thighs. Once the weight was at shoulder level, both Paul and Alexeyev, who gave the impression of being able to front squat a Buick, came up erect with the same apparent effort that I put into getting out of my Laz-E-Boy. And then those cannonball delts went to work, and the bar shot to the ceiling. Pound-for-pound is a consideration as well. Who is stronger - the 123-lber. who can deadlift 600, or the 380-lber. who can deadlift 900? Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2009, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-strong-can-a-human-get/500926/12 "2009-06-26T19:30:26Z")
[http://www.theworldsstrongestman.com/wsm/faq.html](http://www.theworldsstrongestman.com/wsm/faq.html) These are todays contenders. Some of these guys reek steroids, but they train for feats of strength. ---
**Author:** ![smiling\_bandit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2009, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-strong-can-a-human-get/500926/13 "2009-06-26T20:13:11Z")
I vaguely recall a case of a man holding up prtt of a collapsing mine or something. It was said he held up over _100 tons_. However… I can’t recall the details. I’m sure ti hapepned but probably some time ago. I can’t find a cite, dammit. This man probably put most of his weight on the bone tissue, holding it almost perfectly vertical. I recall he was physically wrecked permanently. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2009, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-strong-can-a-human-get/500926/14 "2009-06-26T20:18:21Z")
> [@smiling\_bandit](#): > > I vaguely recall a case of a man holding up prtt of a collapsing mine or something. It was said he held up over _100 tons_. However… > > I can’t recall the details. I’m sure ti hapepned but probably some time ago. > > I can’t find a cite, dammit. > > This man probably put most of his weight on the bone tissue, holding it almost perfectly vertical. I recall he was physically wrecked permanently. [Big Bad John?](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Bad_John) 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Darryl\_Lict](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7cd45c/32.png) [@Darryl\_Lict](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darryl_Lict)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2009, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-strong-can-a-human-get/500926/15 "2009-06-26T22:45:57Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > [Big Bad John?](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Bad_John) 😃 That’s hilarious. I didn’t realize that Jimmy Dean, sausage entrepreneur, had a Billboard number 1 hit! ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2009, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-strong-can-a-human-get/500926/16 "2009-06-27T14:26:44Z")
> [@SmashTheState](#): > > I used to work at a homeless shelter. I’m 6’5" and roughly the size and shape of refrigerator, which is why they put me to work in the program for homeless people with serious mental illness, substance abuse problems, and a history of violence. You couldn’t even get in the front door unless you had already been banned from every other shelter in the city. And among many other memories I took with me was seeing a tiny schizophrenic woman, all skin and bones and looking like a very, very intense ostrich, lift a full-sized couch over her head and throw it like a beanbag. I know for a fact that, large and strong as I am, there is no way I could do what she did. > > I know you mention “no adrenaline,” but athletes train specifically to access what is generally referred to as hysterical strength. Under ordinary circumstances our own brains prevent us from using the full strength of our muscles, lest we break our own bones. I suspect that while modern sport science has allowed athletes to partially tap this reservoir, we have by no means completely unlocked it. However strong “maximum strength” is today, it will probably continue to increase in the future. It looks impressive but re the couch lifting it’s not all that amazing. Non-sleeper bed full size couches are really not all that heavy, typically 70-120 lbs at most. The problem is that they are unwieldy. Given a decent balance point even a moderately strong person can easily lift (and throw if inclined) a couch. I’ve carried many large couches on my back when moving by myself. ---
**Author:** ![SmashTheState](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@SmashTheState](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmashTheState)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2009, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-strong-can-a-human-get/500926/17 "2009-06-27T14:32:19Z")
> [@astro](#): > > It looks impressive but re the couch lifting it’s not all that amazing. Non-sleeper bed full size couches are really not all that heavy, typically 70-120 lbs at most. The problem is that they are unwieldy. Given a decent balance point even a moderately strong person can easily lift (and throw if inclined) a couch. I’ve carried many large couches on my back when moving by myself. It took six _large_ cops to restrain her long enough to get arm and leg cuffs on her. I could have circled both her wrists at the same time with my thumb and index finger. ---
**Author:** ![smiling\_bandit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2009, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-strong-can-a-human-get/500926/18 "2009-06-27T16:38:32Z")
> [@SmashTheState](#): > > It took six _large_ cops to restrain her long enough to get arm and leg cuffs on her. I could have circled both her wrists at the same time with my thumb and index finger. That certainly was hysterical strength, I’d bet, but never forget that it’s actually quite difficult to wrestle with someone who has more energy than you. Strength is not always the key factor. I got outwrestled by my little brother (OK, we’re both grown and were just partying brutally), simply because he was able to outlast me after a 30-minute unstoppable grudge match. I pinned him five times, but I simply couldn’t hold him there forever. ---
**Author:** ![Valgard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/7feea3/32.png) [@Valgard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Valgard)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2009, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-strong-can-a-human-get/500926/19 "2009-06-27T17:52:04Z")
> [@smiling\_bandit](#): > > That certainly was hysterical strength, I’d bet, but never forget that it’s actually quite difficult to wrestle with someone who has more energy than you. Strength is not always the key factor. I got outwrestled by my little brother (OK, we’re both grown and were just partying brutally), simply because he was able to outlast me after a 30-minute unstoppable grudge match. I pinned him five times, but I simply couldn’t hold him there forever. The police were probably also constrained by not wanting to do her any damage. One good smack on the skull with a billy club might have made it really easy for a single officer to slap the cuffs on her but she could wind up with a major injury. When I was a little kid I was absolutely terrified of injections. I clearly recall one trip to the pediatrician when I was about 6 years old when it took two large nurses plus my mom to hold me still so that I could get a shot. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2009, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-strong-can-a-human-get/500926/20 "2009-06-27T18:22:31Z")
> [@Valgard](#): > > The police were probably also constrained by not wanting to do her any damage. Restraining someone isn’t that same as fighting them. The problem with the beatdown is that pain usually stops people from fighting, but people wigged out on nasty stuff don’t respond to the pain, so you have to make it physically impossible for them to fight. That’s either massive restraint or knocking them out.