Biography

Wrestler and weightlifter Henry J. "Milo" Steinborn was born on March 14, 1893 in Siegburg, Germany. Milo grew up near Dusseldorf. At age fifteen Steinborn left home to become a merchant sailor. While living in Australia in 1914 Milo was placed in German internment camps after World War I broke out. It was during his time spent in these internment camps that Steinborn developed in interest in both wrestling and weightlifting. Milo was released from the camps in 1919 and came to America two years later. Steinborn initially made a name for himself with his amazing feats of physical strength at Hermann's Gymnasium in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: He not only lifted 375 pounds in the two-arm clean and jerk, 220 in the one-arm snatch, and 240 pounds in the one-arm clean and jerk, but also smashed old marks for the squat (Steinborn played a key role in popularizing the squat in America), the one-arm snatch, and the continental lift.

Milo began his career in professional wrestling in 1922. Steinborn wrestled in over 300 matches in such states as New York, Georgia, and Tennessee. On March 7, 1926 Milo was severely injured while performing his Leg Bridge act in which he held up a bridge with his legs acting as pillars while a car filled with passengers drove over the bridge; he resumed his wrestling career several months later after recovering from these injuries. Moreover, when he was 57 Steinborn lifted an 800-pound elephant at the 1950 Chicago World's Fair. In 1952 Milo moved from Richmond, Virginia to Orlando, Florida and retired from wrestling the following year. Steinborn opened his own gym in Orlando in 1960 and went on to operate said gym for eleven years. Moreover, Milo worked as a wrestling promoter for eleven years at the Orlando Sports Stadium, where his weekly shows drew thousands of people. He retired from the world of wrestling in 1978. In addition, Steinborn was still doing deep knee bends with 400 pounds on his shoulders in his early 70's and continued to lift weights well into his 80's (he was still able to squat 125 pounds at age 90). Milo died at age 95 on February 9, 1989 in Orlando, Florida. He was survived by his sons Henry and Dick Steinborn, sisters Anne S. and Toni Marie, and seven grandchildren.

- IMDb Mini Biography By: woodyanders