Document Actions
Sri Chinmoy Lifts and Honours the World's Strongest Men
Defying both age and the limits of the possible, 76 year old spiritual master Sri Chinmoy lifted some of the world’s strongest men above his head—some of whom were twice his own bodyweight!
From time immemorial, men and women of all ages have treasured the dream of age-defying strength—a strength that embodies physical prowess, as well as strength of mind, heart and spirit. 76-year-old Sri Chinmoy, with a heart of gold in caring for others and a will of steel in going beyond his own previous achievements, has come to represent that dream for millions of people around the world.
Sri Chinmoy lifts Zydrunas Savickas of Lithuania
As part of a large July 4th celebration in Philadelphia, the 5'8"tall, 173-pound fitness champion and world harmony leader lifted overhead with one arm eight of the world's strongest men, each lift between 320 and 420 pounds. It was part of a unique Team USA versus Team World Strongman Competition. Each of the huge competitors—many of whom weighed more than twice his own bodyweight—Sri Chinmoy raised up one after the other as they stood atop the honorary platform directly over his head. Several of the lifts were well over twice Sri Chinmoy's own bodyweight!
Each champion was garlanded with a large Lifting Up the World With a Oneness-Heart medallion, a unique award Sri Chinmoy has presented to such luminaries as President Nelson Mandela, Mother Teresa, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Muhammad Ali and Sting. Next he honoured all the members of each team together by raising them overhead from a long honorary platform with his calf muscles. The total weight Sri Chinmoy lifted in about half an hour was nearly 6 tons—5948 pounds!
The honourees included the world's number one strongest man, Zydrunas Savickas of Lithuania (World No 1), and 6 of the top 10 strongmen in the world. Their own stupendous strength and huge size made Sri Chinmoy's own lifting feats all the more astounding. Zydrunas exclaimed, "It is fantastic for this little man to do these magnificent lifts!" His colleague Andrus Murumets of Estonia, who is ranked number five in the world, added sweetly, "It was amazing this little dude could lift me. It was very, very impressive!"
The large crowd was astounded and thrilled, knowing as they do what the Master of Ceremonies, 5-time Mr. Universe and Best Built Man of the 20th Century Bill Pearl, so powerfully stated: "Nobody in the entire world can do what Sri Chinmoy has done! Most human beings cannot fathom what this weight means! Nobody else sets world records at the age of 76!"
Indeed, the sight of this small 76-year-old man lifting overhead together three giant Europeans weighing 1216 pounds and then four huge Americans weighing 1406 pounds thrilled even the strongmen. Long-time Registrar of the British Amateur Weight Lifters Association Jim Smith exclaimed, "For Sri Chinmoy to lift these strongest men is very significant. The weight he is lifting is far beyond what anyone else in the world has ever done!"
Following the unique event, Sri Chinmoy said, "Today was one of the highlights of my weightlifting career." He added, "These great strongmen have inspired countless people on earth, and I am so happy I could offer them my most sincere appreciation from the inmost depths of my heart."
Truth to tell, Sri Chinmoy has travelled the length and breadth of the world to offer his encouragement to people from all walks of life who are helping inspire their fellow human beings. Sri Chinmoy explains, "I am trying to inspire all human beings, irrespective of age, to fulfil their goals in this lifetime. The word impossible is only in the mind and not in the heart."
Sri Chinmoy lifts members of Team USA (top), Vasyl Virastyuk of Ukraine (left) and Van Hatfield of Utah (right)
