Marie Sirois
French-Canadian Strongwoman (1865–1920)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Marie Sirois (Septembre 2, 1865 – January 18, 1920), erroneously known as Marie-Louise,[1] was a French-Canadian strongwoman who was promoted as the strongest woman in the world.[2]
Marie Sirois | |
|---|---|
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| Born | 1865 Ste-Anne-de-la-Pocatière, Canada East |
| Died | January 20, 1920 (aged 54–55) |
| Citizenship | Canadian |
| Occupation | The Strongest Woman of the World |
| Known for | Strongwoman |
By age 17, she was noted for having lifted barrels weighing 115 kilograms (254 pounds).[2]
After her family moved to Salem, Massachusetts, she married fellow Quebec strongman Henri Cloutier and performed at his gym in Salem.[3] She became a professional athlete at age 25 and became known for lifting a 1,300 kilograms (2,900 pounds) platform on her back and also restraining a pair of 635 kilograms (1,400 pounds) horses in a similar manner as done by Louis Cyr.[2]
Her performance continued even in her later years, such as the 1917 inauguration (when she was 50 years old) of the Montreal monument to George-Étienne Cartier where she lifted alongside strongman Arthur Dandurand.[4]
After her death in 1920, she was buried in her husband's hometown of Roxton Pond, Quebec. Her tombstone describes her as "la femme plus forte du monde".[4]