World’s strongest man visits Cayman

The World’s Strongest Man - Anthony Clark comes to
Cayman

Anthony Clark snaps a baseball bat 

Anthony Clark signs autographs at Cayman Outreach
Association dinner

Wednesday,  January 26, 2005

Anthony Clark, holder of the title, ‘World’s Strongest Man,’ spent four days visiting the Cayman Islands last week in order to talk about his life. 

Invited here by Raphael Bodden, President of Cayman Outreach Association, Mr Clarke visited Northward Prison, Triple C School, and Eagle House as well as at the Association’s monthly dinner meeting on Saturday 22 January.

The following day, Mr Clark spoke at Faith Cathedral Tabernacle and at the Iglesia Ambajadores de Dios church before going home to Houston, Texas on Monday 24 January.

Mr Clark’s theme was power, not just physical power needed in his record-breaking power-lifts, but the life-changing power that Mr Clark said came from his personal relationship with a loving God.

While speaking at Triple C’s School assembly on Friday morning, students listened intently as Mr Clark told the story of how things changed for him after moving to Texas from the Philippines at the age of seven.

On his first day at school, students began bullying him because of his different appearance and small size. 

Deciding that if he were bigger and stronger he would gain more respect, the young Mr Clark began working out with his father’s set of weights.

By staying focused, Mr Clark said, the students could achieve whatever goal they set their heart on. As a young man Mr Clark broke one weight-lifting record after another. He became the first teenager to bench-press 600 lbs, and eventually Mr Clarke broke the world record for bench-press, at 800 lbs. He also established the world’s record for the Squat, at 1,031 lbs.

Mr Clarke made it plain during all of his speaking engagements that the secret of a truly fulfilled life lay in surrender to God’s will: “The Bible says, ‘Seek first the kingdom of God, and all your desires shall be added unto you,’” Mr Clark said.

Another crisis occurred during Mr Clark’s teenage years when his father’s attitude towards him changed, becoming violent and abusive. As a result, Mr Clarke said, he made the choice to give his life to God, whom he describes as, “A father who loves unconditionally.”

Amongst his feats of strength, Mr Clarke has torn down a wooden house with his hands, lifted the back legs of an elephant, and pushed a car along, after first lifting the back wheels to waist-height. 

At the Outreach Association dinner, Mr Clark impressed the guests by snapping a full-size baseball bat with his hands and giving the broken pieces to waiting children, for them to treasure, before signing their autographs.

See Friday’s edition of Cayman Net News (28 January) for an in depth interview with Anthony Clark.

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