He Carried a Calf Every Day…Until It Became a Bull

He Carried a Calf Every Day…Until It Became a Bull

From Smartest Year Ever by Gordy

March 27, 2026 · 6 min · Season 2026

About this episode

This episode explores the legendary story of Milo of Croton, his training methods, and their relevance to modern strength training.

Today I dive into the unbelievable story of Milo of Croton , one of the most dominant athletes in ancient history—and possibly the strongest man ever recorded . From winning multiple ancient Olympic Games to performing seemingly impossible feats of strength, Milo’s legend sits at the intersection of history, mythology, and early sports science . Ancient sources describe a man who trained in a way that feels shockingly modern—long before gyms, barbells, or structured programs even existed. In this episode, I break down Milo’s most famous feat, his extreme daily routine, and the fascinating idea behind it—one that still forms the foundation of modern strength training and fitness today . But how much of this story is actually true? And what can we really learn from one of the most legendary figures in ancient Greece ? Was he the Strongest Man Ever? This is one of those stories that sounds completely impossible… until you look a little closer. Pausanias. (1918). Description of Greece (W. H. S. Jones, Trans.). Harvard University Press. Strabo. (1917). Geographica (H. L. Jones, Trans.). Harvard University Press. Diodorus Siculus. Library of History (Book 12). Poliakoff, M. B. (1987)…

People in this episode

Host: Gordy

Topics covered

  • ancient history
  • strength training
  • mythology
  • sports science
  • Milo of Croton
  • Olympic Games

Keywords

  • Milo of Croton
  • ancient athletes
  • strength training
  • Olympic Games
  • fitness history
  • mythology

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: National Strength and Conditioning Association

More episodes of Smartest Year Ever

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Smartest Year Ever podcast page.