Ronald Walker

Ronald Walker was a lifter born in 1909 in England with an incredible all around capacity. Ronald never really cared much for showing off with awkward feats of strength, but instead focused on forty two strength tests set by British Weightlifting Association.

Ron Walker

At his prime from 1931 to 1937, Ron Walker dominated British Heavyweight Championship, despite the fact that he was not a very large man at a height of 5’11” and weight of around 190 pounds. I guess you could say that Ron Walker had a deceptive strength. His lifting technique coupled with good timing and great speed was incredible, making him a true all-arounder. He excelled in lifts and feats of strength using dumbbells and barbells, setting numerous records. However, Ron was a heavy smoker and often out of work, so he didn’t exactly have the best conditions for training.

Ronald Walker training in a camp in Berlin, 1936

Take a look at the list below to see his official amateur weightlifting records.

• Right Hand Military Press – 128¾ lbs.
• Right Hand Snatch – 200¾ lbs.
• Right Hand Swing – 190¾ lbs.
• Right Hand Clean & Jerk – 235¾ lbs.
• Right hand, Clean – 320 lbs.

• Left Hand Snatch – 202¾ lbs.
• Left Hand Swing – 171 lbs.
• Left Hand Clean & Jerk – 196 lbs.
• Left Hand Deadlift – 441 lbs.

• Two Hands Swing With Dumbells – 225 lbs.
• Two Hands Clean & Press With Dumbells – 230 lbs.
• Two Hands Clean & Push With Dumbells – 274¼ lbs.
• Two Hands Clean & Jerk With Dumbells – 258¼ lbs.
• Two Hands Anyhow With Dumbells – 292 lbs.
• Two Hands Slow Curl – 161½ lbs.
• Two Hands Clean & Press From Behind Neck – 264 lbs.
• Two Hands Press – 282½ lbs.
• Two Hands Clean & Push – 314 lbs.
• Two Hands Snatch – 297½ lbs.
• Two Hands Clean & Jerk – 363¾ lbs.
• Two Hands Clean & Jerk From Behind Neck – 358½ lbs.
• Two Hands Continental Jerk – 380¼ lbs.
• Two Hands Anyhow With Barbell and Ring Weight – 310½ lbs.

• Crucifix – 140 lbs.
• Lateral Raise Standing – 155½ lbs.
• Hold Out In Front, lowered from above – 91 lbs.

Some of these British amateur records still haven’t been broken and others happened without any serious training on Ron’s part. Unfortunately, Ronald Walker died prematurely in 1948 at the age of 40, as a result of metastasized cancer. He held 21 British Heavyweight records at that time.