In the early 1990s Hoeberl claimed to have the largest arms in the world. At the 1994 Arnold Schwarzenegger Classic, bodybuilding journalist Joe Roark measured Hoeberl's upper arm to be 25.75 inches (65.4 cm) cold. Right after Hoeberl curled a 150 lb. dumbbell for several reps and was re-measured at 26 inches (66 cm) pumped. After the measurement Roark claimed Hoeberl was the first man in history to have an upper arm girth three times the size of his wrist circumference.[5]
Shortly after this, Hoeberl co-wrote his first book 10 Minutes to Massive Arms.[6]
Hoeberl was officially certified on the No. 3 Captains of Crush gripper in 1997[7] and was famous for his world class grip strength.
→ Hoeberl is the 9th man and the first non-American to get certified on this gripper[9]
Barbell curl – Close to 200 kg (441 lb) for a max according to Manfred himself.
→ During training he often did 68 kg (150 lb) for sets of 12 reps at the end of biceps training, after 8 rep sets with 75 kg (165 lb) seated cable curls and 50 kg (110 lb) seated dumbbell curls
Physical stats
Height – 1.93 metres (6 ft 4 in)
Weight – 135–145 kg (298–320 lb)
Upper Arm – 25.75 in (65.4 cm) cold, 26 in (66.0 cm) pumped
Forearm – 17.5 in (44.5 cm) goose-necked at right angle to upper arm
Wrist – 8.37 in (21.3 cm)
Car crashes and retirement
Shortly after the 1994 World's Strongest Man contest, Hoeberl was involved in a near fatal car crash in which he broke several limbs, and fractured his hip in 8 places. After months of rehabilitation, Hoeberl returned to strongman competition, although he never again competed in the World's Strongest Man. A severe biceps injury sustained during the 1997 European Hercules contest forced him into retirement.[1]
Hoeberl was involved in a second near fatal crash in 2002.[10] Hoeberl was involved in a head-on collision with a truck while riding a motorcycle at 80 miles per hour.[10] Due to his injuries Hoeberl is no longer weight training, he is quoted as saying "I am kinda lucky to be alive".[10]
