​Armwrestling’s Best Generation?


​Comparing greats from different eras can often lead to interesting discussions. Just for fun, I’ve grouped some of the all-time best pullers into the major generations of the western world, starting with the Silent Generation, which includes many of the first stars of the organized sport. Three additional generations are also covered, included the Baby Boomers, Generation X, and the Millennials/Generation Y. Different boundaries are sometimes used to identify these groups: I used the ones that are most commonly applied.
 
I selected ten men and five women as representatives for each generation. All experienced tremendous success during their time in the sport. Many more pullers would have been great selections, and their exclusion by no way means they were/are not greats of the sport.
 
Only the pullers' names are listed, in birth order. Their accolades are not included here, but if you are interested in learning more about them, you are encouraged to peruse the various lists in the “Top Pullers” section of the website.

The Silent Generation (1928-1945)

MEN:

Al Turner
Duane “Tiny” Benedix
Earl Hagerman
Jim Pollock
Virgil Arciero
Norm Devio
Maurice Baker
Roy Ridgley
Steve Stanaway
Johnny Walker
Picture
Al Turner
Picture
Earl Hagerman
Picture
Virgil Arciero
Picture
Maurice Baker
Picture
Steve Stanaway
Picture
Duane "Tiny" Benedix
Picture
Jim Pollock
Picture
Norm Devio
Picture
Roy Ridgley
Picture
Johnny Walker
​
WOMEN:

Too few women from this generation competed to develop a relevant list


​The Baby Boomers (1946-1964)

MEN:

Jim Dolcini
Cleve Dean
Clay Rosencrans
Allen Fisher
Richard Lupkes
George Givens
Bobby Hopkins
Dave Patton
Ron Bath
John Brzenk
Picture
Jim Dolcini
Picture
Clay Rosencrans
Picture
Richard Lupkes
Picture
Bobby Hopkins
Picture
Ron Bath
Picture
Cleve Dean
Picture
Allen Fisher
Picture
George Givens
Picture
Dave Patton
Picture
John Brzenk

​WOMEN:

Pam Carter
Carolyn Liebel
Cheri Fiebig
Christine Jaworski
Dot Jones
Picture
Pam Carter
Picture
Cheri Fiebig
Picture
Carolyn Liebel
Picture
Christine Jaworski
Picture
Dot Jones


​Generation X (1965-1980)

MEN:

Andrew "Cobra" Rhodes
Gary Goodridge
Jambul Vibliani (aka Roman Tsindeliani)
Cvetan Gashevski
Michael Todd
Engin Terzi
Devon Larratt
Travis Bagent
Dave Chaffee
Alexey Voevoda
Picture
Andrew "Cobra" Rhodes
Picture
Jambul Vibliani
Picture
Michael Todd
Picture
Devon Larratt
Picture
Dave Chaffee
Picture
Gary Goodridge
Picture
Cvetan Gashevski
Picture
Engin Terzi
Picture
Travis Bagent
Picture
Alexey Voevoda

​WOMEN:

Joyce King
Liane Dufresne
Vika Gabakova
Barb Zalepa
Albina Gusalova
Picture
Joyce King
Picture
Vika Gabakova
Picture
Liane Dufresne
Picture
Barb Zalepa
Picture
Albina Gusalova


​​Millennials / Generation Y (1981-1996)

MEN:

Denis Cyplenkov
Rustam Babayev
Khadzimurat Zoloev
Andrey Pushkar
Arsen Liliev
Evgeny Prudnik
Krasimir Kostadinov
Levan Saginashvili
Vitaly Laletin
Oleg Zhokh
Picture
Denis Cyplenkov
Picture
Khadzimurat Zoloev
Picture
Arsen Liliev
Picture
Krasimir Kostadinov
Picture
Vitaly Laletin
Picture
Rustam Babayev
Picture
Andrey Pushkar
Picture
Evgeny Prudnik
Picture
Levan Saginashvili
Picture
Oleg Zhokh

​WOMEN:

Heidi Andersson
Egle Vaitkute
Irina Makeeva
Gabriela Vasconcelos
Sarah Bäckman
Picture
Heidi Andersson
Picture
Irina Makeeva
Picture
Egle Vaitkute
Picture
Gabriela Vasconcelos
Picture
Sarah Bäckman


​Zoomers / Generation Z (1997-2012)

While some pullers from this generation have already experienced great success in the sport, it’s a bit premature to identify ten representatives at this point in time. The best is yet to come for most of the athletes in this age group.
 

​I will not attempt to estimate which armwrestling generation is the best of all time. I will leave that to you, the readers, to give this some thought and form your opinions.
 
 
​
 
Written by Eric Roussin