Paul Anderson to be Featured in New History Channel Show
Weight lifters were in Toccoa Monday to emulate Paul Anderson’s historic Olympic lift
Film crews from the History Channel have been seen in and around Toccoa over the past several days. They are filming a segment on Paul Anderson for a new show.
On Monday, four current weight lifters were at Paul Anderson Park to see if they could beat Anderson’s weight lifting record.
Donald Meyerson is one of the producers and said the show is like MythBusters for Strong Men.
“So we are advancing all over the world and finding mythological and legendary feats of strength. And we’re putting those feats to the test with the world’s strongest men,” he said.
Meyerson said the strong men wanted to come to Toccoa because of Anderson’s legendary strength.
“We’re here because of Paul Anderson and what he’s done for the town and what he’s done for Georgia,” he said. “He’s been a tremendous icon for the strong man industry and all these guys wanted to come to Toccoa. It’s part of their pilgrimage or their mecca to becoming a strong man.”
Also at the event Monday was Anderson’s daughter Paula Anderson Schaefer.
She said the four strong men were trying to emulate her Dad’s weightlifting feat.
“What they’re emulating is my dad’s lifting in Gorki Park in Moscow, Russia,” she said. “In 1955 he was part of one of the first teams that went behind the Iron Curtain and represented the United States. When my dad did this lift in Gorki Park he broke the existing record by 22 pounds.”
On Monday, the four strong men lifted 405 pounds, slightly more than Anderson’s 402 pound record in 1955, but his daughter said they didn’t exactly beat her dad.
Weight lifters hoisted Paula Anderson Schaefer up over their shoulders Monday
“Now my Dad’s lift was a little more difficult. He brought the weight from the ground. These guys started with the weight up on the bar, but they’re not Olympic lifters. So, to do that movement you have to do to pull it off the floor, is something that they just don’t practice. So, my Daddy’s lift was a little more difficult.”
As a parting gesture, the four weight lifters also lifted Schaefer up over their heads, which she said was awesome.
Today, the group travels to Vidalia where they will visit the Paul Anderson Youth Home.
Meyerson said the Paul Anderson segment is expected to air in either late August or early fall on the History Channel.