Episode 141
Dobar dan ljudi!
Since it’s the beginning of the year, we decided to do a lesson about the most common resolution for most of us: Getting back into shape and exercising.
I’m getting tired just thinking about it!
Grab your headphones, muscle Tees and let’s lift some new vocabulary!
Lesson
gym - teretana
sit-ups - trbušnjaci
push-ups - sklekovi
pull-ups - zgibovi
burpees - marinci
squats - čučnjevi
dumbell - bućica
barbell - šipka
weights - utezi
treadmill - traka za trčanje
Super Slatko Report
Staying on the topic of fitness, DJ Moe will tell us about a Croatian legend: Marijan Matijević. Who was he? What does he have to do with exercising and getting back into shape? You’ll have to listen to the Super Slatko Report to find out!
Without further ado, Marijan Matijević.
Marijan Matijević, often mentioned as “the strongest man in the world,” was born on January 10, 1878, in the small village of Duboki Dol, located in the region of Lika in what is now Croatia.
(If you’d like to know more about the Like region, check out the Super Slatko Report in Episode 57)
At the time, the Lika region was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Matijević was born into a humble peasant family, growing up in a rugged and mountainous area that shaped his physical endurance and resilience. The harsh environment, coupled with a life of manual labor from a young age, laid the foundation for the strength that would later carve his legacy.
Matijević’s journey to discovering his extraordinary strength began during his teenage years. Working on his family’s farm, he often performed physically demanding jobs, such as lifting heavy rocks and carrying large loads. However, his natural abilities truly came to light when he participated in local competitions and displays of strength. His remarkable feats, such as lifting fully grown men and pulling heavy carts, quickly earned him a reputation in his community. Recognizing his potential, Matijević began participating in traveling circuses and strongman competitions, which allowed him to showcase his talent to broader audiences and refine his skills.
Throughout his career, Matijević achieved numerous accolades that solidified his place in history. He performed across Europe, mesmerizing crowds with seemingly impossible feats of strength. One of his most famous included lifting a horse on a platform, a performance that became a hallmark of his shows. Matijević also competed against other renowned strongmen of his time and consistently emerged victorious, earning him the nickname “The Samson of Lika.” His fame reached far beyond his native land, making him a celebrated figure in international strongman circles.
Matijevic had a few trophies and titles to add to his resume or CV.
For Weightlifting, in 1904 he became the world champion in Ankara, the highest Turkish award, awarded to him by the last Turkish sultan, Abdul Hamid II.
For Boxing, in 1907 he beat Italy’s Primo Carnera, a world heavyweight champion who fought, Tommy Loughran, Max Baer and Joe Louis.
In 1927 he was given a Golden Cross from the New York Athletic Commission with the inscription, The Worlds Strongest Man.
He’s also known for few feats of strength:
He never lost a single fight, and there are supposedly records to prove that.
He was able to bend iron that most fighters couldn’t lift.
He could break horseshoes with his bare hands
Able to hammer nails into oak planks and then pull them out with his finger nails
They would put 150kg stones (331 lbs) on his chest and break them with sledge hammers
He could tear a deck of 80 cards with his fingers. Wow, I sometimes have a hard time ripping up some of the mail I get that’s a little thick.
For lunch, its said he would regularly eat 5kg (11lbs) of meat for lunch.
And lastly, it’s said he was able to eat an entire roasted lamb, janjetina, from the spit by himself.
Because of his success he was able to see the world, traveling all over including North and South America. While in the United States, he allowed Doctors to X-Ray him to find out that his bone tissue was double the size of a normal human being. I don’t know what the scientists saw and how they came to their conclusions, but there are different types of bone tissue, with one being stronger/pliable than the other. Perhaps Matijević had a double dose of the stronger version that was noticeable in an X-Ray from that time period. It would be interesting to know more if there was information abailable.
In addition to his strength-based accomplishments, Matijević’s character and humility earned him admiration from those who knew him. Despite his global fame, he remained deeply connected to his roots, often returning to his home village to spend time with his family and community. He was known for his generosity, using his earnings to support charities and causes to aid those in need.
Matijević’s legacy endures as a symbol of extraordinary physical strength and charitable nature. Decades after his passing in 1951, his life story continues, serving as a testament to the power of determination and the ability to overcome humble beginnings.
Please check out the following webistes that I used to source some of the information in this article. I thank them for their hardwork and sourcing the information.
Last but not least, Sretan Rodjendan Marijan Matijević!
(Born January 10, 1878, we recorded this on the same day in 2025)
And that’s it for the super Slatko report.
