An opportunity 30 years in the making..

30 Years Ago my dad Bert posed for a photograph with the 4 Times world's strongest man, Jon Pall Sigmarsson in our business Marco's. Yesterday I had the chance to meet Eddie "The Beast" Hall, 2017 world's strongest man, i had to try and recreate that photo, i might never get the opportunity again.

Bert DeMarco was an Entrepeneur, a hard working visionary business man, he took proper risks, including converting an 80,000 sq ft derelict bakery into "Marco's" Scotland's first "Leisure centre" in 1979.

Above, the iconic "Marcos Leisure Centre" had the best gym in town, it was here Bert seized on the opportunity to take the picture with Jon Pall.

Although the leisure centre was sold many years ago and the business has evolved into something very different. I was delighted to have the opportunity to remember the businesses' heritage once again with myself meeting a world's strongest man!

We were lucky enough to be hosting Eddie at The Edinburgh Corn Exchange during his UK tour to meet his fans, here was my opportunity to recreate that photo !

Eddie was the world's Strongest man (WSM) in 2017.

 With a diet which can reach 12,500 calories a day he is currently "Light" at a mere 169kg, that's 26 stone. When training for the WSM he rose to 194kg. He Holds the world Record for deadlift at 500kg and can bench press 300kg. The weights he lifts are dangerously heavy, Jon Pall unfortunately died while deadlifting, suffering what was thought to be a traumatic aortic rupture.

Over the years i've been fortunate to meet many interesting and famous people at the Corn Exchange, but i don't think i've ever felt quite so nervous, it wasn't so much meeting Eddie (he's a brilliant bloke) it was taking my shirt off in front of hundreds of people that worried me.

One of Eddies great stories on the night was how he swam as a teenager, at the ASA National Age Group Championships in 2001, he won gold in the 50m, 100m, 400m and 1500m freestyle. Now when he swims they compare it to seeing a shark in the water. He can still swim 50m in under 30 seconds, unbelievable considering his size. Anyway its probably right he moved into weigh lifting and what an impact he has made.

So time for the main event !

Here's me with my clothes on.

Shirt Finally off. 30 years in the making ..

Here's a comparison with bert's shot..

Thanks Eddie for being such a great sport, he was proper keen, insisting we get the position right, check out the thumbs ! No rush at all, a total gentleman.

It was a nice way for me to remember and recognise that although I am running a very different business from that which my dad started, we might not walk the exact same path, and the business environment is so so different, still some things are exactly the same !

Paul D

Here's Eddies World Record Breaking 500KG Deadlift.