It has been awhile since I put a spotlight on the town where my corner of the book world is in: Toccoa, Georgia. With the summer olympics going on right now, I was reminded of the olympic history right here in Toccoa.
"If I, Paul Anderson, The World's Strongest Man, can not make it through one day without Jesus Christ, how can you?"
Paul Anderson was born on October 17, 1932 in Toccoa, Georgia. When he was a young child, he was diagnosed with a kidney disease, but he healed. Paul grew up in Toccoa and attended high school here. He earned and accepted a football scholarship to Furman University. He left Furman and at nineteen years-old, he was lifting weight equivalent to the world record at the current time. Um, AMAZING.
Paul Anderson was twenty-two years old when he competed in the 1956 Olympics held in Melbourne, Australia. His sport was weightlifting. Paul Anderson won a gold medal in the sport! In 1957, after his olympic victory, Paul was named "World's Strongest Man" when he lifted 6,270 pounds in a back lift setting the Guiness World Record!!!
Please take a few minutes to learn about the youth home, Paul Anderson Youth Home, that Paul started with his wife soon after he won his Olympic gold medal! When you travel to Toccoa, you will find much more information about Paul Anderson at the Currahee Military Museum as well as our Visitor's Center at the train depot downtown. Paul Anderson's legacy is worth your time and travel!
