Heinrich “Milo” Steinborn was a strongman, record-breaking weightlifter, a famous wrestler, and a successful physical culture and combat sports promoter.
Milo was born in Germany in 1894. He didn’t start his fitness journey until he became was a prisoner of war in World War 1. While locked up, he discovered the power of lifting weights and was taught the ways of weightlifting and power training by his fellow POWs. During this time, he learned the magic of squatting with heavy weights.
Squats in the Bronze Era of Bodybuilding
Sure, squats existed before Milo entered the scene, but in the good ol’ USA, most gyms and trainers were all about doing squats on your tiptoes with little to no weight. (A.k.a. Hindu Squats.) It wasn’t until Milo arrived from Germany that physical culturists started doing squats with weights on their back.
Squatting with heavy weights was gaining popularity in Germany and Milo was all over that. He even competed in the 1919 German Weightlifting Championship where the squat was just starting to gain recognition.
Back then there were no squat racks like we have today. So Milo would load up the barbell, raise one side to a vertical position, balance it on his shoulder, and then drop into a squat.
It was a crazy maneuver and people couldn’t believe their eyes when Milo squatted 557 pounds all by himself at Hermann’s Gymnasium in Philadelphia. That was the birth of what we now call the “Steinborn Squat.”
How to Perform the Steinborn Squat
The Steinborn squat is a unique and challenging exercise. It involves lifting a barbell from the floor onto the shoulders while utilizing balance, leverage, and strength. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to perform the Steinborn squat.
Warning! This is not a recommendation to do or try the Steinborn squat, merely for information purposes only. The Steinborn squat carries a high risk of injury. This is simply an explanation of how Milo loaded the massive weight on his back.
Load up the Barbell: Start by loading the barbell while it’s positioned horizontally on the floor.
Stand the Bar Vertically: Raise one end of the barbell until the weight stands upright.
Position Yourself: Stand next to the weight, and bend sideways with your shoulders against the upright barbell.
Lift the Bar: With a strong grip on the barbell, hoist yourself up in one fluid motion, lifting the weight.
Establish Balance: Take a moment to find your balance and ensure that your feet are planted firmly on the ground.
Adjust Your Stance: Once the bar is securely on your shoulders, adjust your foot positioning to a comfortable squat stance.
Squat: With the barbell now on your shoulders and your stance established, descend into a squat by bending your knees and lowering your body toward the ground. Maintain proper form by keeping your chest up, back straight, and knees tracking over your toes.
Return the Bar: After completing your desired number of repetitions, carefully lower one end of the barbell back down to the floor by reversing the lifting process. Then carefully drop the other end onto the floor.
Safety Note: The Steinborn squat requires significant strength, balance, and coordination. It is recommended to start with light weights and practice proper technique before gradually increasing the load. Additionally, having a spotter or experienced coach can provide guidance and ensure safety during the exercise.
Milo’s Career as a Strongman and Weightlifter
Milo’s strength and body size ratio was off the charts, and American weightlifters and wrestlers couldn’t get enough of him. Strongman Sigmund Klein was one of his biggest supporters. Milo appeared in Klein’s magazines, training manuals, and gym ads. He even set new world records for the squat, one-arm snatch, and continental lift.
Earning The Nickname ‘Milo’
While in the US, Milo crossed paths with Alan Calvert, the founder of the Milo Bar-Bell company, the go-to manufacturer of gym equipment back then. Alan was so taken by Milo that he made him the face of Milo Bar-Bell. That’s how Milo got his nickname. Everyone started calling him “Milo,” and it stuck with him forever.
And guess what? If you bought a Milo Bar-Bell product, you got a free weight training manual with Milo in pictures showing you how it’s done. It was also around that time that he Americanized his name from Heinrich to Henry.
Milo Steinborn’s Wrestling Career
Milo wasn’t just a weightlifting and strongman superstar but also a force to be reckoned with in the wrestling ring. He transitioned to professional wrestling and had over 300 matches between 1922 and 1953. Lou Thesz, a wrestling legend, once described Milo as “The strongest man I ever wrestled.”
After his wrestling career, Milo became a wrestling promoter for 25 years. He managed wrestlers and organized wrestling events at the Orlando Sports Stadium. He even passed on his wrestling genes to his son, Dick Steinborn, who also became a famous wrestler.
Life and Times of Milo Steinborn
But let’s not forget some of the crazy things Milo did. One time, during a performance of the Leg Bridge in 1926, the whole thing collapsed, and Milo got seriously injured. It took him months to recover. He never did the stunt again.
During the Chicago World Fair when he was 57 years old, Milo lifted an 800 lbs. elephant on his shoulders.
At one time, Jean Paul Getty, who happened to be the richest man in the world by then, made a bet with Milo that he (Milo) couldn’t do 30 reps with 315 lbs. Milo won the bet by doing 33 reps and Getty ended up paying a hefty sum.
Milo’s Legacy
Leg Bridge – Milo Steinborn Strongman Stunt
Milo’s legacy lives on. He introduced the unassisted squat to the US, which we now know as the “Steinborn Squat.” He popularized weighted squats worldwide when everyone was just doing bodyweight squats.
Let’s not forget that he historically rocked the first-ever tag-team wrestling match. He paired up with Whiskers Savage in 1930 to fight in the first tag-team match ever. They fought against Tiger Daula & Fazul Mohammed.
In another tag-team match in 1953, Milo paired up with his son, Dick Steinborn, against Pedro Godoyn and Cue Ball Rush.
At the age of 64, he opened the legendary Orange Avenue gym in Orlando which he successfully ran until his retirement 11 years later. At the same time, he was a central Florida wrestling promoter, a job he did until he retired at 78.
Milo aged gracefully and full of strength. In his 70s, he was still doing knee-deep bends with 400 lbs. on his shoulder. At 90, he could still squat with a 125-pound weight.
He passed away at 95 in 1989.
Conclusion
Milo Steinborn was a true pioneer in the fitness and wrestling world. His strength, skills, and charisma left a lasting impact. So the next time you hit the gym, do a squat and remember the man who brought it to America, the legendary Heinrich “Milo” Steinborn!
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