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Johann K. Petursson
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Johann K. Petursson, was born in Dalvík, Iceland in 1913 and was known as ''The Viking Giant'', and as ''Jóhann Risi'' (Johann the Giant) and ''Jóhann Svarfdćlingur'' (Johann from Svarfa?ardalur) in his native country of Iceland. Throughout his sideshow career he often dressed up in a suit and top hat, or his more famous Viking costume. While exhibiting himself in Sarasota, Florida he often claimed to have stood 8 ft 8 inches tall, but his actual height was about 7 ft 7 inches [231cm], a peak weight of 360 lbs [162kg] and he wore a size 24 US shoe (42 cm)--He was the tallest Icelandic man on record. In addition to being a circus performer, he starred in several movies, most notably Prehistoric Women 1950 where he played the role of a giant cave man. Petursson eventually retired, and lived out his remaining days in his hometown of Dalvik, passing away in 1984. Like so many other gigantic men he had back and joint problems. He is believed to have been married, and is known to have had one child, in Denmark.
Tallest man in Iceland.
Jóhann was born on the 9th of february 1913, the third of nine brothers and sisters. Jóhann Svarfdćlingur, as he was always called was best known for his tallness. He was the tallest Icelander ever known and for a while he was claimed to be the tallest man in the world. His height was 2,34m and weighed by then 163kg. He used shoes number 84. Jóhann had to look for a job in foreign countries because he had trouble in getting a suitable job at home. In the year of 1935, one year after the big earthquake in Dalvík, 22 years old, he went to Denmark and was working in Scandinavia, and exhibited himself to the public in a circus for a living. He travelled all over the world and exhibited, for example, in the world show in París in 1937. When the second world war began in 1939, Jóhann was blockaded in Copenhagen and stayed there to the end of the war. In 1945 he return to Iceland and travelled around the country with a film show. Then he took up his previous job and moved to USA 1948 and lived there until 1982 when he returned to Iceland. Jóhann came back to Dalvík and moved to Dalbćr the old folks home,and lived there till the day he died. Jóhann Svarfdćlingur died the 26th of November 1984 and was buried in the graveyard in Dalvík. In the museum in Dalvik there are many things from Johann, and much more like special room for Kristján Eldjárn former president of Iceland.
