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The Weightlifter Who Never Gives Up
When amateur weightlifter Sri Chinmoy recently became the only person ever to wrist-curl a 203-pound dumbbell, fans and commentators could have been forgiven for thinking that the 74 year-old Indian born athlete from New York had finally reached his peak.
Late last year Sri Chinmoy showed that persistence and determination trump age by curling a specially constructed 256 lb dumbbell ten times with each hand at his home gym – a feat witnessed by eight onlookers and a video camera.
And on 10 November, Sri Chinmoy pressed two dumbbells overhead that together weighed a grand total of 740 lbs (to commemorate his 74th year), dedicating his achievement to “men and women of my age—the older generation".
Long-time heavyweights and experts in the bodybuilding and lifting field have learned to expect the unexpected when it comes to Sri Chinmoy’s unusual lifts. They have watched him progress rapidly from his first 100 lb ground-to-overhead lift in 1985, when he formally began the sport, to his current superhuman feats of strength which leave many wondering: “How’d he do that?”
Some lifting pros such as five-time Mr. Universe Bill Pearl, former Mr. Olympia Frank Zane and New Zealand’s Commonwealth Games champion Precious McKenzie have developed close friendships with Sri Chinmoy – sharing training tips, working out together and providing mutual encouragement.
Nevertheless, this latest lift has raised many an eyebrow as experts marvel at the fact that a 180 lb septuagenarian is able to do lifts greater than many pro athletes half his age and double his weight.
Bill Pearl called the 256 lb curl a “miracle”. Wayne DeMilia of the International Federation of Bodybuilders said of the previous lift, “Out of all the weightlifters and champion bodybuilders I have seen; and I have seen many, Sri Chinmoy is the only one I have ever seen wrist curl a 200lb. dumbbell."
So, can we expect to see Sri Chinmoy competing in the Olympics any time soon? Well, probably not. His lifts tend to be deliberately unconventional, often requiring specially designed apparatuses. Although the kinds of exercises which Sri Chinmoy specialises in are used frequently in gyms, they do not fit into the judging categories of the Olympics and other professional weightlifting contests.
And that’s just the way Sri Chinmoy likes it. He says he lifts not in order to compete for medals and awards, but to inspire people to improve themselves in any way they can to achieve their highest potential, whether in sports or in any other aspect of life. “If I can inspire anybody in this world, then I feel that my life is meaningful. With my weightlifting, I am offering my physical strength to inspire people.”
Sri Chinmoy has visited New Zealand several times. While frequenting local gyms, he would often inspire interest and discussion among those present; as it was not often they saw an elderly Indian gentleman lifting weights which were beyond the capacity of most people. Sri Chinmoy regards his unique lifting ability as the result of many years of intense concentration - and on these occasions he spoke about the relationship between physical strength and inner power.
One of Sri Chinmoy’sother hobbies is lifting people overhead on a custom-built exerciser. He does this on regular occasions as a way of commemorating special individuals, including America’s heaviest man Larry McConneghey (735 lb), and America’s tallest (Aurangzeb Khan at 8 ft 0 in).
The above article was published in the Feb/March 2006 issue (No.77) of 'New Zealand Fitness' magazine.
Copyright 'Methode Media Limited'.
