313:
418:, a group of women possessing superhuman strength. In many of these fictional works, the dilemma and solution lies in the character's superhuman abilities. Having these powers alienates them from society but also aids them in their quest. Recurring adaptations of well-known characters are often employed, which continue to perpetuate the use of superhuman strength in fiction.
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Humans have tried to use external devices to enhance their strength. The earliest device that was patented for this specific purpose can be credited to
Nicholas Yagn, who filed the patent in 1890. The device was described to be an "apparatus for facilitating walking, running, and jumping" through the
355:
Vladimir
Zatsiorsky stated that extraordinary strength can occur when a person engages their muscles through the conscious "exertion of will". Zatsiorsky claims that trained athletes can improve their strength under specific conditions of competition. Fear can also cause a person to exhibit enhanced
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Records describe instances of people going beyond "normal" strength in specific circumstances without taking any specific measures, as in the case of Tom Boyle, who was able to lift the front of a car in order to rescue a person trapped beneath it. Penn State professor of
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display some degree of super strength. Some films invoke a fictional substance or drug that gives the superpower. The level of superhuman strength portrayed can vary greatly, from just outside the "normal" or "natural" human range of the strongest
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Many fictional works involve superhuman strength, rooted in religious texts or in scientific form. The depiction of superhuman strength dates as far back as the earliest recorded work of writing, with the
Sumarian hero
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In the real world, extraordinary strength can occur via science. A person can become stronger, tougher, and more physically powerful than would seem humanly possible when using enhancements such as
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possess the strength to perform physical feats impossible for the human body. These characters and their powers draw from earlier myths. Wonder Woman ostensibly descended from the
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Humans are actively trying to achieve superhuman strength via technology and scientific experimentation. Athletes have turned to various methods to improve performance, such as
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Weight lifters and other athletes routinely perform feats that appear to be superhuman to others. For examples, in 2016 Blaine Sumner achieved the heaviest single
258:(Greek). Attempts to modify the human body in order to gain extraordinary strength is common throughout history, as seen in fiction through characters such as
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627:
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More recently, superhuman strength is employed by characters called superheroes in comic books, which dates back to the 1930s. Characters such as
395:. Early legends portray characters gaining their superhuman strength from the gods and exhibiting characteristics of both heroic humans and gods.
80:. Superhuman strength is an amorphous ability, varying in potency depending on the writer or the context of the story in which it is depicted.
281:. Accordingly, "In Ancient Rome, gladiators would drink herbal infusions to strengthen them before chariot races." Currently, drugs including
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of 401.05 kilograms (884 lb). At the same competition, he squat-lifted 500 kilograms (1,102 lb). In 2020,
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The term appears in weight-lifting and 'protein formula' commercials without proof of their efficacy.
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30:"Super-strength" redirects here. For the beverage also known as Super-strength lager, see
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with superhuman strength have been found in multiple ancient
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intended for military use to enhance soldier performance.
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are ingested to enhance strength and other attributes.
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to be worn by humans to enhance movement and strength.
68:. Alternate terms of superhuman strength have included
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is considering a variety of technologies to create an
52:. A fictionalized representation of the phenomenon of
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Humans have tried to enhance their strength through
106:. This is generally by means of mechanisms such as
202:. Other technologies being researched are robotic
604:"Superhuman Strength: How to Build It | T Nation"
126:sources within fantasy. A plethora of comic book
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214:Superhuman strength is a common ability of many
753:. Vol. 158, no. 18. Time. p. 77
626:: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (
776:. Princeton University Press. p. 12.
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721:. University of Chicago Press. p. 1.
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98:Superhuman strength is a common trope in
602:Nation, Eric Bach, T (18 October 2017).
378:broke the world record for the heaviest
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159:), to nearly unlimited strength (e.g.,
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689:Guinness World Records (10 May 2020).
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749:Poniewozik, James (22 October 2001).
715:Kripal, Jeffery (30 September 2011).
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326:. The hero is known for his strength.
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772:Huber, Michael (8 September 2011).
303:United States Department of Defense
301:use of bags of compressed air. The
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553:"Man lifts car off pinned cyclist"
472:British Journal of Sports Medicine
382:at 501 kilograms (1,105 lb).
48:and other literary works, such as
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578:"When Fear Makes Us Superhuman"
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666:"Heaviest bench press (male)"
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56:, it is the power to exert
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468:"Competing against doping"
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527:"Nanotech: Super Threads"
695:guinnessworldrecords.com
751:"Super, Human Strength"
372:Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson
118:in science fiction, or
813:Science fiction themes
670:Guinness World Records
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324:Antonio del Pollaiuolo
356:human strength. (see
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279:the use of substances
89:mythological accounts
478:(Suppl 1): i8.3–i8.
112:genetic modification
44:commonly invoked in
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691:"Heaviest Deadlift"
646:SuperHuman Strength
582:Scientific American
551:Huicochea, Alexis.
448:Hysterical strength
404:The Incredible Hulk
358:hysterical strength
62:physically possible
54:hysterical strength
38:Superhuman strength
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254:(Polynesian), and
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141:powerlifters
124:supernatural
110:body parts,
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587:28 December
368:bench press
353:kinesiology
307:exoskeleton
222:in ancient
157:Deathstroke
128:superheroes
66:human being
32:Malt liquor
797:Categories
774:Mythmatics
757:2 December
734:2 December
675:2018-05-31
651:2018-05-12
613:2018-05-12
537:2017-12-01
454:References
386:In fiction
341:substances
295:β-blockers
283:stimulants
260:Terminator
226:, such as
198:or taking
165:Juggernaut
108:cybernetic
42:superpower
508:US 440684
494:0306-3674
438:Myostatin
428:Berserker
393:Gilgamesh
291:diuretics
246:(Hindu),
224:mythology
173:Supergirl
137:strongmen
93:religions
50:mythology
700:25 March
622:cite web
608:T NATION
531:Newsweek
422:See also
408:Superman
380:deadlift
345:training
268:Iron Man
256:Achilles
232:Heracles
228:Hercules
220:demigods
185:Hercules
169:Superman
558:28 July
416:Amazons
376:Iceland
264:Robocop
248:Kintarō
236:Beowulf
210:History
120:magical
100:fantasy
85:deities
46:fiction
27:Ability
828:Tropes
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410:, and
337:doping
293:, and
272:Cyborg
270:, and
240:Samson
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736:2017
723:ISBN
702:2022
628:link
589:2009
560:2006
490:ISSN
343:and
252:Māui
218:and
216:gods
189:Goku
181:Thor
161:Hulk
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