Paul Trappen
Personal information
CitizenshipGermany
Born1887
Heidweller, Germany
Died(1957-02-22)February 22, 1957
Trier, Germany
Occupation(s)wrestler, weightlifter, strongman
Spouse
Susanna Dier
​
(m. 1911)​

Paul Trappen (1887-1957) was a German wrestler and weightlifter who gained a reputation as the world's strongest man circa 1915.

Life

Paul Trappen was born in 1887 to Ackerers Christian Trappen and his wife Maria Katharina Görgen. As an apprentice butcher, he moved to Trier, where he lived until his death. In 1911, Trappen married the Susanna Dier, the daughter of a Trier bricklayer. Trappen's daughters Anna and Katharina, and his son Josef emerged from the marriage. In the 1920s he began making his living as an innkeeper.[1]

Professional career

Paul Trappen lifts two oxen in 1913.

By 1913, Trappen had established a reputation as the strongest wrestler in the German southwest. After winning the German heavy lifting championship,[2] the American circus Barnum and Bailey hired him, but World War I prevented Trappen's career in the circus from starting.[3]

After the First World War, he appeared in variety shows in numerous places for several years, performing great feats of strength. He set a world record lifting 32 people (47.4 hundredweight or over 1,500 kg or 3,300 lb) sitting on a board with his legs while lying on his back.[2]

His most well-known feat was when he stood on a scaffold and lifted up a platform holding two full-grown oxen (total weight: 2,064 kg or 4,550 lb) almost half a meter high on an iron chain.[2]

He won the European heavy lifting championship in 1924.[3]

Although Trappen exceeded the feats of strength of Olympic champions, he was prevented from competing in the Olympics because he had been branded a professional due to his contract with the Barnum and Bailey circus.[3] Paul Trappen maintained his reputation as the world's strongest man longer than any other athlete.[3]

References

  1. ↑ Gregor Brand (10 November 2010). "Paul Trappen". Eifel Zeitung.
  2. 1 2 3 "The strongest man in the world – Paul Trappen". Trierischer Volksfreund. 22 February 1997.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Once upon a time... Paul Trappen". WochenSpiegel. 26 November 2015.
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