Luxembourg has produced its share of remarkable figures, but few were as physically extraordinary or as internationally celebrated as John Grün.
Born on 27 August 1868 in Mondorf-les-Bains, Grün hailed from a local family of craftsmen and Yenish travellers. His father was a well-established blacksmith and tinsmith, so from an early age he was exposed to physical work.
However, he did not want to emulate his father in his profession; he decided to emigrate to the United States in 1889, and came into contact with the professional athlete Aloysius Marx while working in a brewery.
Thanks to him, Grün became a participant in a strongman partnership called The Marx Brothers, where he rose to prominence during the golden age of strength athletics and captivated audiences around the world.
When Grün came back to Luxembourg in 1892, his reputation as the strongest man in the world quickly spread. He toured extensively across Europe and the United States, appearing in circuses, music halls, and a wide range of performance venues.
Grün is now often branded as "Luxembourg's Hercules", he amazed audiences with displays of power. For instance, he rended cards and horseshoes with his bare hands, could reportedly smash of a stone block on his chest, and even bringing a moving car to a standstill.
Stories circulated that lifting massive iron weights seemed effortless for him. The famed magician Harry Houdini, who often appeared alongside Grün, famously observed that he handled immense weights as casually as a child shaking a toy.
In 1909, he suffered from a serious injury, and had to give up his career as a strongman. He then travelled to London, where he became the landlord of a public house. A few years later, he was diagnosed with a mortal desease and died in Luxembourg, on 3 November 1912.
Grün has become a source of pride for the people of Luxembourg: In recognition of his achievements, a monument was erected in his hometown of Mondorf-les-Bains, and the stadium was named in his honor.
