At 7'1", came to college at a slender 245 lbs, later played at 275, perhaps 300.
In addition to tremendous lifetime basketball stats, which he dominated at every level, at KU he also participated in track, ran the 100-yard dash in 10.9 seconds, shot-putted 56 feet, triple jumped more than 50 feet, & won the high jump in the Big 8 track and field championships 3 straight yrs. Plus there was the (conservative) 20,000 sexual encounters based on his (adjusted) calcs.
Reportedly, Wilt benched over 460 pounds at the age of 59. Could clean and jerk 375 lbs & dead-lift 625 lbs at some point. Some of this may have been exaggerated, but he was stronger than everyone else. At Shaq's peak fitness he could bench about 450.
The Miami News - Nov 7, 1962 = 'He can clean and jerk a 375-lb. weight, run the quarter mile in 47s, and high-jump over 6-11.'
Sports Illustrated - March 2, 1964 - ... who can press 400 pounds without breathing hard...
The Evening Independent - Jan 6, 1967-"I'd bet you $1,000 I could lift 1,000 pounds," the 76ers singular 7-1 center said
FYI: One particular GlobeTrotter skit involved captain Meadowlark Lemon collapsing to the ground. Instead of helping him up, Chamberlain threw him several feet high up in the air & caught him like a doll. "[Chamberlain] was the strongest athlete who ever lived", the 210-pound Lemon later stated. Others made the same claim.
He also didn't lack confidence...
In addition to tremendous lifetime basketball stats, which he dominated at every level, at KU he also participated in track, ran the 100-yard dash in 10.9 seconds, shot-putted 56 feet, triple jumped more than 50 feet, & won the high jump in the Big 8 track and field championships 3 straight yrs. Plus there was the (conservative) 20,000 sexual encounters based on his (adjusted) calcs.
Reportedly, Wilt benched over 460 pounds at the age of 59. Could clean and jerk 375 lbs & dead-lift 625 lbs at some point. Some of this may have been exaggerated, but he was stronger than everyone else. At Shaq's peak fitness he could bench about 450.
The Miami News - Nov 7, 1962 = 'He can clean and jerk a 375-lb. weight, run the quarter mile in 47s, and high-jump over 6-11.'
Sports Illustrated - March 2, 1964 - ... who can press 400 pounds without breathing hard...
The Evening Independent - Jan 6, 1967-"I'd bet you $1,000 I could lift 1,000 pounds," the 76ers singular 7-1 center said
FYI: One particular GlobeTrotter skit involved captain Meadowlark Lemon collapsing to the ground. Instead of helping him up, Chamberlain threw him several feet high up in the air & caught him like a doll. "[Chamberlain] was the strongest athlete who ever lived", the 210-pound Lemon later stated. Others made the same claim.
He also didn't lack confidence...
