André René Roussimoff, known worldwide as Andre the Giant, remains a captivating figure. His colossal size and strength, combined with his wrestling prowess and acting career, cemented his status as a pop culture icon. While many stories circulate about his unbelievable strength and appetite, separating fact from fiction can be challenging. This article explores the truth behind Andre the Giant's diet, workout regimen (or lack thereof), and the reality of his legendary strength.
Andre the Giant: The Eighth Wonder of the World
Born in Coulommiers, France, on May 19, 1946, André René Roussimoff began his wrestling career in 1966. He relocated to North America in 1971. By the time he was 12, Andre stood 6'3" and reportedly weighed 200 pounds. His extraordinary size resulted from acromegaly, a hormonal disorder where the pituitary gland produces excessive growth hormone. This condition led to his towering 7'4" frame and a weight that often exceeded 500 pounds. From 1973 to the mid-1980s, Roussimoff was booked by World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF) promoter Vincent J. McMahon as a roving "special attraction".
From the early 1970s, Andre quickly became a star in the wrestling world. His imposing stature and strength made him a key attraction for wrestling promotions worldwide. Beyond wrestling, André expanded his fame into the entertainment industry. His most notable role was as Fezzik in the 1987 movie The Princess Bride, where his gentle giant persona charmed audiences. His charisma and unique presence made him a beloved figure both on and off-screen.
The "Workout"
Despite his incredible strength, reports suggest that Andre the Giant barely worked out or lifted weights. Jason Hehir, the director of the HBO documentary "Andre The Giant," noted that Andre was "naturally strong" with "God-gifted strength." He was known for picking up cars. The fact that Andre barely lifted weights made his feats of strength all the more impressive. “He wasn’t a guy who worked out," says Hehir. "He only worked out after his back surgery and when he was at Vince McMahon’s house for a while before WrestleMania III [in March 1987]. He did that reluctantly and it was more for rehab. He was just naturally strong.”
There wasn’t a lot of quantifiable evidence of how tall he was, what he weighed or what he could actually lift, because this was not a guy who saw a day in a public gym in his entire life.
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Diet: A Feast Fit for a Giant
Andre the Giant's diet is as legendary as his wrestling career. Stories of his enormous appetite are rampant, painting a picture of a man who could consume staggering amounts of food and alcohol.
Anecdotes include:
- Multiple Steaks: Former undercover wrestler Ken Kaiser recounted a meal where Andre consumed three 16-ounce steaks, twelve baked potatoes, and a salad "just a little larger than the Orange Bowl."
- Beer Consumption: WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair claimed to have witnessed Andre drink 106 beers in one sitting. Hulk Hogan recalled Andre consuming 108 beers during a one-hour layover at an airport.
- Wine and Six-Packs: According to the HBO documentary, Andre would regularly consume a case of wine or four six-packs in one sitting.
- Massive Meals: André was known to consume extraordinary amounts of food. Stories describe him eating multiple steaks and several lobsters in one meal.
Former MLB umpire Ken Kaiser, who had a spell as an undercover wrestler in a mask, went for dinner with Andre and former wrestler and promoter Dino Bravo. Dino and I each had a steak, a baked potato and a salad. Andre--and I'm not exaggerating, this is absolutely the truth--had three sixteen ounce steaks, twelve baked potatoes, a salad that was just a little larger than the Orange Bowl, all washed down with a quarter keg of beer.
The Truth Behind the Strength
Andre the Giant's strength was undeniable, although quantifying it precisely remains a challenge.
- Lifting Feats: Old footage shows him deadlifting a 2000-lb weight. The documentary shows him hoisting and carrying two 200 pound-plus wrestlers like babies, then squeezing the life out of them via one giant bear hug.
- WrestleMania III: His strength is also on full display during footage from his pivotal 1987 WrestleMania III match against Hulk Hogan, which is now arguably one of the most significant bouts in WWE history.
- Acromegaly: People in the early stages of acromegaly tend to be stronger by virtue of their size, and a few case studies have reported people with the condition having remarkable strength.
In 1981, the late strength historian Terry Todd wrote a profile of André the Giant for Sports Illustrated. “He discovered one day in Paris that he could move a small car by himself, and for quite a while after that he amused himself by moving his friends’ cars while they were having a meal or a drink, placing them in a small space between a lamppost and a building, or turning them around to face the other way. His strength was so natural to him that he had no interest in lifting weights. He was interested in having a joke on his friends, not in showing how strong he was. I have lived among strong men all my life.
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Wrestling Career
On 24 March 1973, Roussimoff debuted in the World Wide Wrestling Federation (later World Wrestling Federation) as a fan favorite, defeating Frank Valois and Bull Pometti in a handicap match in Philadelphia. Roussimoff was one of professional wrestling's most beloved babyfaces throughout the 1970s and early 1980s. As such, Gorilla Monsoon often stated that Roussimoff had not been defeated in 15 years by pinfall or submission prior to WrestleMania III. In 1980, he feuded with Hulk Hogan, when, unlike their more famous matches in the late 1980s, Hogan was the villain and Roussimoff was the hero, wrestling him at Shea Stadium's third Showdown at Shea event and in Pennsylvania, where after Roussimoff pinned Hogan to win the match, Hogan bodyslammed him much like their legendary WrestleMania III match in 1987.
Roussimoff feuded with Big John Studd over which of the two men was the "true giant" of wrestling. Throughout the early to mid-1980s, Roussimoff and Studd fought all over the world, battling to try to determine who the real giant of wrestling was. Around this time, Roussimoff requested a leave of absence to tend to his health, since the effects from his acromegaly were beginning to take their toll, as well as to tour Japan. He had also been cast in the film The Princess Bride.
Roussimoff agreed to turn heel in early 1987 to be the counter to the biggest "babyface" in professional wrestling at that time, Hulk Hogan. On an edition of Piper's Pit in 1987, Hogan was presented a trophy for being the WWF World Heavyweight Champion for three years; Roussimoff came out to congratulate him, shaking Hogan's hand with a strong grip, which surprised the Hulkster. Speaking on behalf of his new protégé, Heenan accused Hogan of being Roussimoff's friend only so he would not have to defend his title against him. Hogan tried to reason with Roussimoff, but his pleas were ignored as he challenged Hogan to a match for the WWF World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania III.
Health Issues and Death
André faced significant health challenges due to his giantism. He often experienced pain and mobility issues, which worsened with age. According to the documentary, Andre wasn’t diagnosed with the disorder until his 20s; he also repeatedly declined medical attention, both of which may have contributed to his death.
André the Giant passed away on January 27, 1993, in Paris, due to heart failure.
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