John Grün (August 27, 1868 – November 3, 1912) was a Luxembourger strongman, often referred to as "The Luxembourgian Hercules" or "The Strongest Man in the World" during his active career in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Born in Mondorf-les-Bains, Luxembourg, Grün rose to international fame through his extraordinary feats of strength.
Grün's professional career began around the 1890s, and he quickly established himself as one of the most powerful men of his era. He toured extensively throughout Europe and the United States, performing in variety shows, circuses, and music halls. His acts included lifting immense weights, bending iron bars, breaking chains with his bare hands, supporting heavy objects (such as platforms with multiple people or even small elephants) on his chest, and resisting the pull of multiple horses. He was also known for his ability to lift and manipulate exceptionally heavy dumbbells and barbells.
Among his most famous feats were the "human bridge" where he would support heavy weights across his body while lying down, and his one-hand lifts of objects that far exceeded the typical weights handled by other strongmen of the time. He competed against and often surpassed other renowned strongmen, cementing his reputation.
Grün's training methods were rigorous, focusing on heavy lifting and progressive resistance. He was a contemporary of other legendary strongmen like Eugen Sandow, and contributed significantly to the popularization of strongman performances as a form of entertainment.
John Grün died relatively young at the age of 44 in Luxembourg City. He remains a significant figure in the history of strength athletics and a national hero in Luxembourg. His legacy is remembered through various monuments and exhibitions in his home country.