About 2,500 years ago, in the hills of southern Italy, lived a formidable beast named Milo of Croton whose incredible life and amazing displays of strength have turned into legendary tales.
Milo’s story is something every lifter should hear because it conveys a powerful message about the effectiveness of progressive overload[1]in building super strength!
Born in the 6th century BC in a Greek colony, now in southern Italy, he was one of the most legendary athletes of the ancient world, winning 6 Ancient Olympic medals in wrestling. Considering that the Olympics occurred every 4 years, Milo held the top spot for an incredible 24 years.
The wrestler was a follower of the famous philosopher Pythagoras. One day, during a meeting with other followers, an unexpected event occurred and the roof of their building collapsed. With swift action, Milo used his hand to support the entire roof, ensuring the safety of everyone. His heroic response spared them from harm and showcased his extraordinary abilities.
Milo’s feats weren’t confined to wrestling and philosophy; he was a fierce military commander.
In 510 BC, he led his troops into battle against the Sybarites. Milo’s approach to warfare mirrored the heroics of Hercules. He boldly entered the fight wearing a lion’s skin he had killed, wielding a club, and proudly donning the Olympic crown. Yet, this display of strength wasn’t just for show; Milo’s courageous charge, imitating Hercules, genuinely saved his soldiers.
Milo’s courage and leadership, both in the wrestling arena and on the battlefield, make his story a timeless inspiration for those seeking strength, resilience, and heroism.
Milo of Croton’s Legendary Feats
- Milo would stick his arm out, fingers stretched, and dare people to bend his little finger. No one could do it!
- Milo stood confidently on a greased disk, challenging people to push him off, but no one could.
- Holding a pomegranate, he invited others to scratch or damage it, yet it remained untouched in his firm grip.
- During his off years, Milo’s workout involved carrying a baby calf daily. By the time the Olympics arrived, he’d be lugging around a full-grown cow. He’d even carry the cow across the entire stadium, then turn it into a feast.
- Milo secured victory in the boys’ wrestling category at the 540 BC Olympics.
- He continued his winning streak by clinching the men’s wrestling competition at the next 5 consecutive Olympic Games.
- Milo extended his dominance to other competitions, boasting 7 wins in the Pythian Games.
- His remarkable achievements also included 10 victories in the Isthmian Games.
- Milo showcased his prowess with 9 triumphs in the Nemean Games.
The Secret Behind Milo’s Superpower
Milo got super strong with a clever plan.
One day, a baby calf was born close to Milo’s home. Milo thought, “I’ll lift this little calf and carry it on my shoulders.” So, every day for the next 4 years, he lifted the growing calf onto his shoulders.
Guess what happened? The calf turned into a big, 4-year-old bull, but Milo was still lifting it!
This story teaches us important things about getting strong and building muscles.
Milo’s strength training held three key aspects: progressive overloading, high training frequency and consistency.
These lessons are valuable for everyone striving to improve their strength and fitness.
Constant Progressive Overloading
- Meaning: It’s about gradually increasing the weight in your workouts.
- Example: Milo lifted a small calf daily, progressing to a full-grown bull, showcasing the principle of gradually lifting heavier loads. Progressive overload is a go-to principle in the fitness world, and Milo’s calf story is a perfect example.[2]
High Workout Frequency
- Meaning: Workout frequency refers to how often a person engages a specific muscle group in a week. It’s essentially the number of times someone works out the same muscle group within a given timeframe, like a week. This aspect of resistance training plays a crucial role in achieving muscle hypertrophy goals.[3]
- Example: For Milo of Croton, his workout routine was as straightforward as his legendary strength. He did the same activities every single day. Milo’s workout frequency involved daily sessions, a routine that became the cornerstone of his extraordinary physical abilities.
Consistency
- Meaning: Regularly sticking to your workout routine.
- Example: Milo consistently carried the calf each day for four years, highlighting the importance of steady effort over time.
In a nutshell, the idea is that your body adapts to any challenging activities. What was once hard becomes easier, so you must keep increasing the difficulty with constant practice to keep growing stronger. It’s like leveling up in a game – you should keep advancing to get better.
Milos’ Diet
It’s said that he ate a lot every day, including 20 pounds of meat, 20 pounds of bread, and 18 pints of wine.
The Tragic Death
Milo, the powerful wrestler from ancient times, had a dramatic and unfortunate end. One day, he found a wooden stump in the forest split by wedges. Trying to show his strength, he used his hands to split the stump. Unfortunately, the wedges slipped, and the wood closed, trapping his hands. In this dangerous situation, the mighty Milo of Croton, became prey to wolves, as told by ancient historians.
That’s how the strongest man in history was defeated by a simple wooden stump!
The vivid details of his legendary strength and the sad story of his death have inspired art and literature.
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Final Words
Milo’s story teaches us that consistent effort, combined with a gradual increase in the load, is the winning formula for building enduring strength. It’s not just about what you do once but what you do consistently over time that makes a real difference.
So, it is not surprising that even the Bronze Era believed in the power of progressive overload. Milo was a true flagbearer, and his life story gives you goosebumps.
Let this legend’s incredible story inspire you on your fitness journey.
Reference
- Geantă, V. A., & Ardelean, V. P. (2021). Improving muscle size with Weider’s principle of progressive overload in non-performance athletes. Timisoara Physical Education and Rehabilitation Journal, 14(27), 27-32. https://doi.org/10.2478/tperj-2021-0011
- Mann, J. B., Thyfault, J. P., Ivey, P. A., & Sayers, S. P. (2010). The effect of autoregulatory progressive resistance exercise vs. linear periodization on strength improvement in college athletes. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 24(7), 1718-1723. doi:10.1519/JSC.0b013e3181def4a6
- Schoenfeld, B. J., Ogborn, D., & Krieger, J. W. (2016). Effects of Resistance Training Frequency on Measures of Muscle Hypertrophy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Sports Medicine, 46(11), 1689–1697. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-016-0543-8
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