Iranian born strongman Khalil Oghab, also known as The “Iron Man from Iran” was the first man to organize strongman shows in Iran. Born in 1924 in Shiraz, young Khalil was active in varzesh-e pahlavani, an ancient traditional Iranian system of athletics that has been used for warrior training.
Khalil was famous for bending heavy metal beams, scrolling, support feats and getting ran over by cars. In his best performing days in Iran, Khalil was able to attract a crowd of as much as 50,000 people in a single event in the sixties. Eventually, he decided to tour the world and lived in Ireland (1971), England (1972) and Italy, working in various circuses as a strongman to support himself. After long journey of about 20 years, Khalil Oghab settled down in Italy where he founded a circus called “Iran and Italy”.
Khalil Oghab bending a metal beam
Iron Man from Iran was able to carry 1000 pounds in teeth and lift 3000 pounds elephant with his feet. It is said that he lifted two elephants for five years on a daily basis, just to maintain the strength needed for shows. Khalil came back to his home country in 1991 after being invited by the Iranian government, along with sixty performers working for him in a circus. Among them were two of his children, Shahrzad and Ibrahim.
A poster from 1978 advertising Khalil Oghab
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Comments
Khalil Oghab is indeed the strongest man of all time, things he has done are unimaginable.
He is our Iranian pride
It is unfortunate I read it in the news that now being 95 years old he doesn’t have place to leave sleeps in a parking lot and needs help for his medications!!dose anybody care?
Such a shame he is 97 and lives in a parking now without anybody caring for him! Typical way of our nation love never goes beyond words!!
He is dying in poverty and illness in his country Iran.
He is settled down in a donated parking after government forced him leave Tehran (Capital of Iran).
This was destiny of the man who used to lift elephants with his teethes.
He died yesterday 😔 20 april 2023
“Rest in peace”⚘