The Great Antonio
The strongman Antonio Barichievich (1925-2003), aka the Great Antonio, seems Weird-Universe worthy. Here's a few brief facts about his life (via wikipedia and mrkurtnielsen.com):
- He first made it into the Guinness Book of World Records in 1952 by pulling a 433-ton train 19.8 metres.
- He weighed 465 pounds (at his heaviest) and stood about 6 foot 4 inches.
- He could eat 25 chickens or 10 steaks at one sitting.
- He claimed that he trained by running head-on into trees from a distance of 60 metres.
- He sang with a soft, beautiful voice, and at one time wanted to tour with Tiny Tim.
- He owned what was possibly the world's largest rocking chair — 4 meters high and 2 meters wide.
- He believed he was descended from extraterrestrials.
- As he grew older, he braided his dreadlocks into a club held together with masking tape and used this to play "hair golf."
- Later in life, the only way to contact him was to leave a message at the Dunkin' Donuts in Rosemont, Canada.
- He died of a heart attack at the age of 77.
Comments
I'd say just by looking at him that he was the inspiration for the Geico Cavemen.
Posted by KDP on 09/11/12 at 12:23 PM
That must be Edith Ann's chair. He looks like one of those wizards in fantasy books.
Posted by Patty in Ohio, USA on 09/11/12 at 07:50 PM
The Biblical Sampson, reincarnated, apparently, just without the Biblical story and purpose in life.
Posted by done on 09/12/12 at 09:24 PM
This guy was a common sight around Montreal.
I was on a city bus once and he stopped it put on the chains and towed it down the street
I was on a city bus once and he stopped it put on the chains and towed it down the street
Posted by farl on 09/13/12 at 09:10 AM
Commenting is not available in this channel entry.
Category: Eccentrics | Freaks, Oddities, Quirks of Nature | Human Marvels