Lou Ferrigno is a name that rings bells for many. He’s the guy who played the Hulk on TV. But there’s more to him than just green makeup.

Lots of people wonder: How strong was Lou Ferrigno? It’s not an easy question to answer.

Unlike today’s bodybuilders, we don’t have many videos of Lou lifting weights. He didn’t do powerlifting contests either. So, we’re left with bits and pieces of info to figure it out.

How Strong was Lou Ferrigno?

In this article, we’ll look at what we know about Lou’s strength. We’ll check out his bodybuilding career, his claimed lifts, and what he did in the gym.

We’ll also look at how he did in a strong man contest. By the end, you’ll have a good idea of just how strong the Incredible Hulk was.

How Strong was Lou Ferrigno?

Lou Ferrigno’s Bodybuilding Career

Let’s start with the basics. Lou Ferrigno was a big deal in bodybuilding. Here are some key facts:

• He won Mr. America and Mr. Universe when he was just 21
• He was tall for a bodybuilder – 6’5″
• He competed in the 1975 Mr. Olympia at age 24
• After that, he quit bodybuilding to be an actor
• He came back to bodybuilding at age 41

Lou’s career was a bit odd. Most bodybuilders keep at it for years. But Lou left when he was young. He spent his prime years playing the Hulk on TV. This makes it hard to know how strong he could have been.

Here’s a quick look at Lou’s bodybuilding stats:

Year	Age	Weight	Competition
1973	21	265 lbs	Mr. Universe
1975	24	275 lbs	Mr. Olympia
1992	41	315-325 lbs	Mr. Olympia

As you can see, Lou got a lot bigger over time. But was he stronger? That’s what we’ll try to figure out.

Claimed Lifts vs. Actual Lifts

When you look online, you’ll find some big numbers for Lou’s lifts. But are they real? Let’s check it out.

Claimed Lifts

Here’s what you’ll often see as Lou’s best lifts:

• Bench press: 560 lbs
• Deadlift: 850 lbs
• Squat: 675 lbs

These are huge numbers. If true, they’d put Lou among the strongest men of his time. But there’s a problem. We don’t have proof of these lifts. They might be guesses, or maybe someone just made them up.

Actual Lifts

So what do we know about Lou’s strength? We have some videos of him working out.

Here’s what we see:

• Incline Press: In a film called “Pumping Iron”, Lou does 205 lbs for about 10 reps. He doesn’t lock his arms all the way, which was how he liked to lift.
• Standing Overhead Press: This is more impressive. In the same film, Lou presses 245 lbs for 10 reps. He uses a bit of body movement, but it’s still a big lift.

From these, we can try to guess what Lou might have lifted for one max rep:

• If we’re generous, maybe Lou could’ve done a 315 lb strict overhead press.
• Most people can bench press about 1.5 times what they can overhead press.
• So, we might guess Lou’s max bench press at around 445 lbs.

That’s still really strong, but it’s a lot less than the 560 lbs people claim.

For squats and deadlifts, we don’t have any good info. Lou didn’t seem to do these lifts much. If we use the same math as the bench press, we might guess:

• Deadlift: about 690 lbs
• Squat: about 550 lbs

But remember, these are just guesses based on very little info.

Lou Ferrigno in the 1977 World’s Strongest Man Competition

In 1977, Lou took part in the first World’s Strongest Man contest. This gives us a rare chance to see how he did against other strong guys. Here’s what happened:

• There were 10 events
• 8 men took part
• Lou was the youngest at 25 years old
• He weighed 278 lbs

Here’s how Lou did:

Events Lou Won:

1. Bar Bend: This tested back and chest strength
2. Car Deadlift: Lou lifted one side of a 2684 lb car

Event Where Lou Tied for Second:

• Wrist Roller: This tested forearm strength

Events Where Lou Struggled:

• Squat (with people in cages)
• Refrigerator race
• Wheelbarrow race
• Tram pull

Lou did best in events that used upper body strength while standing still. He didn’t do well in events that needed leg strength or speed.

Final Result: Lou came in 4th place overall

This contest shows us a few things:

1. Lou was very strong in some ways
2. He wasn’t as good at full-body or leg strength events
3. He was competitive with some of the strongest men of his time

It’s worth noting that Lou wasn’t as big as the guys who beat him. He looked lean compared to them. If he had trained just for strength and gotten heavier, he might have done even better.

Strength in Different Eras

Lou’s strength changed over time. Let’s look at the different stages of his life:

Young Lou (early to mid-1970s)

• This is when we see him in “Pumping Iron”
• He was lean and focused on bodybuilding
• Probably his most well-documented strength period

The Incredible Hulk Years (late 1970s to early 1980s)

• Lou was playing the Hulk on TV
• He had to stay big but wasn’t focused on maximum strength
• We don’t have much info on his lifting during this time

Hercules Era (mid-1980s)

• Lou played Hercules in a movie when he was 31
• He looked bigger than before
• But we don’t have reliable strength numbers from this time

Comeback Years (1990s)

• Lou returned to bodybuilding in his 40s
• He was much heavier now – over 300 lbs
• In one video, we see him curling 70 lb dumbbells for 6 reps
• But most footage shows him using lighter weights for more reps

It’s hard to say when Lou was strongest. He was the biggest in the 1990s, but being big doesn’t always mean being the strongest. Lou’s focus was always on looking good, not on lifting the most weight possible.

Comparing Ferrigno’s Strength to Other Bodybuilders

How did Lou stack up against other famous strong guys? Let’s look:

Arnold Schwarzenegger

• Arnold was known for being very strong
• He did powerlifting before bodybuilding
• His best lifts were higher than what we know Lou did

Franco Columbu

• Franco was much shorter than Lou but very strong
• He set powerlifting records in his weight class
• He likely was stronger than Lou pound-for-pound

Modern Era Bodybuilders (like Ronnie Coleman, and Dorian Yates)

• These guys came later and lifted huge weights
• They focused more on heavy lifting than bodybuilders in Lou’s day
• Their proven lifts are much higher than Lou’s

It’s important to remember that Lou was bigger than Arnold and Franco. But size isn’t everything in strength. Lou’s focus was more on how he looked than on lifting super heavy.

Factors Affecting Ferrigno’s Strength

Why wasn’t Lou as strong as some other famous bodybuilders? There are a few reasons:

Genetics and Physical Advantages

• Lou was very tall, which can make some lifts harder
• He had great genetics for building muscle, but maybe not for maximum strength

Training Style and Philosophy

• Lou often used a “pump” style of training
• This means more reps with lighter weights
• It’s good for building muscle, but not for max strength

Focus on Aesthetics vs. Pure Strength

• Lou’s goal was to look good, not to lift the most weight
• This affected how he trained and what he focused on

Height Factor

• Being 6’5″ made some lifts harder for Lou
• Shorter guys often have an advantage in lifts like the bench press and squat

Time Away from Heavy Lifting

• Lou spent his prime years acting, not lifting
• This might have limited his strength gains

The “What If” Scenario

This brings us to a big question: What if Lou had focused on strength? Here are some thoughts:

• If Lou had kept bodybuilding from age 25-35, he might have gotten much stronger
• With his size and genetics, he could have been a top strongman competitor
• In modern strongman events, his height would be an advantage in some events

But we’ll never know for sure. Lou chose acting over competitive lifting. It’s fun to guess, but we can only go by what we know he did.

Ferrigno’s Legacy in Strength and Bodybuilding

Even if Lou wasn’t the strongest ever, he left a big mark:

Impact on Bodybuilding

• He showed that very tall guys could succeed in bodybuilding
• His size set new standards for how big bodybuilders could be

Influence on Strength Training

• Lou’s “pump” style of training influenced many gym-goers
• He inspired people to lift weights, even if not for maximum strength

Cultural Impact

• As the Hulk, Lou made being super strong look cool
• He helped popularize weightlifting and bodybuilding

FAQs about Lou Ferrigno’s Strength

Here are some common questions people ask about Lou Ferrigno’s strength:

• Q: Was Lou Ferrigno the strongest bodybuilder ever?

A: No, Lou wasn’t the strongest bodybuilder ever. Guys like Ronnie Coleman and Dorian Yates lifted more weight. But Lou was still very strong.

• Q: Could Lou Ferrigno beat Arnold Schwarzenegger in a strength contest?

A: It’s hard to say. Arnold did powerlifting and we know his best lifts. We don’t have the same info for Lou. Based on what we do know, Arnold was probably stronger.

• Q: Did Lou Ferrigno ever compete in powerlifting?

A: No, Lou never competed in powerlifting. He focused on bodybuilding and then acting.

• Q: How much could Lou Ferrigno bench press?

A: We don’t know for sure. Some people claim 560 lbs, but there’s no proof. Based on what we’ve seen, it was probably closer to 445 lbs.

• Q: Was Lou Ferrigno stronger when he was younger or older?

A: Lou was bigger when he was older, but that doesn’t always mean stronger. We don’t have enough info to say for sure when he was strongest.

• Q: Could Lou Ferrigno win a modern strongman contest?

A: Probably not. Today’s top strongmen are much stronger than the guys from Lou’s time. But if Lou had trained just for Strongman his whole career, who knows?

• Q: Did playing the Hulk make Lou Ferrigno stronger?

A: Playing the Hulk kept Lou big and in shape, but it probably didn’t make him stronger. He wasn’t focused on lifting heavy weights during that time.

• Q: How did Lou Ferrigno’s height affect his strength?

A: Lou’s height (6’5″) made some lifts harder, like bench presses and squats. But it helped in other ways, like in the car deadlift at World’s Strongest Man.

• Q: Did Lou Ferrigno use steroids?

A: Like many pro bodybuilders of his era, Lou likely used steroids. But he never talked about it publicly. Steroids can help with strength, but they don’t do the work for you.

• Q: How does Lou Ferrigno’s strength compare to natural lifters?

A: Even if we use the lower estimates of Lou’s strength, he was still much stronger than most natural (non-steroid-using) lifters.

Remember, strength isn’t just about big numbers. Lou Ferrigno’s combination of size, strength, and aesthetics made him a unique figure in the world of strength and bodybuilding. His legacy goes beyond just how much he could lift.

Also Know About:

• Tom Platz
• Aarron Lambo

Conclusion:

So, how strong was Lou Ferrigno? The truth is, we don’t know exactly. The huge lifts you see claimed online are probably not true.

But we do know Lou was very strong, especially in his upper body. He could press big weights overhead and had great strength in some strongman events.

Lou’s strength is hard to pin down because he didn’t focus on it like some others did.

He was more about looking strong than proving his strength with big lifts. But in the 1977 World’s Strongest Man, he showed he could compete with some of the strongest men around.

In the end, Lou Ferrigno’s legacy isn’t just about numbers. He inspired countless people to get into fitness and bodybuilding.

He showed that with hard work, you could transform your body and become incredibly strong.

Even if we can’t say exactly how many pounds he could lift, we can say for sure that Lou Ferrigno was one of the most impressive and influential strongmen of his time.