Who was Cleve Dean? Remembering the arm wrestling legend

Cleve Dean has been described as a gentle giant with a larger-than-life personality. The deceased athlete dominated the arm wrestling scene in the 70s and 80s, becoming the world's best arm wrestler of all time. This article highlights Dean's life and career achievements, and why he is fondly remembered in the arm wrestling industry.

Is Cleve Dean still alive? Unfortunately, the arm wrestling champion suffered health conditions that cost him his career and life. However, fans continue to celebrate him years after his demise, thanks to his incredible pulling techniques. Who is Cleve Dean, and why is he remembered even years after his death? Read all about his legacy and impressive records.

Cleve Dean's profile and bio summary

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When was Cleve Dean born?

Cleve was born on December 15, 1953, in Pavo, Georgia, Canada. Growing up, he worked on his father's farm, harvesting tobacco and cotton and raising pigs. Dean occasionally carried 100-pound bags of feeds to the pig pens and sometimes lifted his seven-ton John Deere tractor just for fun. This manual labour helped to build his strength and stamina from an early age.

He grew up alongside one brother, Wayne Dean, and one sister, Faye Darlene Clark. The details of Cleve's parents are not public.

What was Cleve Dean's age when he died?

Unfortunately, the legendary arm wrestler died on May 10, 2011. The Georgia native was 58 years old when he passed away. If Cleve Dean were alive in 2024, he would be one of the oldest arm wrestlers at 70 years old.

Cause of death

Cleve Dean started suffering health issues after his first retirement from arm wrestling in the early 1990s, a move he attributed to burnout. Unfortunately, he suffered back pains and gained almost 600 pounds, according to lowkickmma.com, leaving him almost disabled.

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He attempted a comeback in 1993, but his performance was not the same as it had previously been. Unfortunately, the pulling legend passed away in 2011. According to online reports, he succumbed to a heart attack.

Cleve Dean's career

As a young boy, Cleve was the strongest kid in his town. He started arm wrestling in the mid-70s and participated in numerous super heavyweight division competitions in Georgia and the Southern U.S. He steadily rose to become a superstar.

One of Dean's unique traits is that he would pull using both hands. The deceased athlete won over 90 championships throughout his career. Some of Cleve Dean's arm wrestling career highlights and achievements include:

• The 1978 Supermatch title against Virgil Arciero, where he won 2:0
• 1980 DaVinci Eastern States Open A.W Championships against Dan Mason. He won 2:0
• Two AAA Sit-Down National Titles (1979 & 1980)
• Three WAF World Titles (1994, 2001, and 2005)
• Yukon Jack World Title (1994)

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Did Cleve Dean ever lose? The arm wrestling champion lost one contest throughout his career, the final of his first competition in December 1977. He won all the other matches after that before officially retiring in 2008. Besides arm wrestling, the athlete appeared in several movies, including Over the Top (1987), featuring Sylvester Stallone, and Pulling John (2009) as himself.

Cleve Dean's height and weight

How strong was Cleve Dean? The world's best arm wrestler was 463 pounds (210kg). His body size, strength, stamina, and determination saw him pin down countless opponents. He stood at 6 feet and 7 inches. Unlike other athletes who build their strength in the gym, Dean developed muscle and stamina working on the farm.

Cleve Dean's hand size

According to several online sources, Dean's hands measured 8.5 to 10 inches from his palm to the tip of his middle finger, six inches wide, and he wore a size 20 ring on his ring finger.

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Cleve Dean's net worth

Dean likely earned a fortune from arm wrestling, thanks to his countless titles and records in the sport. The 1978 Supermatch against Arciero came after Cleve offered $2,500 for anyone in the world who was willing to pull him. His net worth was an estimated $1.1 million at the time of his death. However, the world's best arm wrestler undoubtedly earned a pretty penny from his skill.

Besides arm wrestling, Dean likely earned an impressive acting from his acting pursuits. He also participated in the World Strongest Man competitions in 1979 and 1980, finishing 6th and 9th out of 10.

Who was Cleve Dean's wife?

According to online sources, Dean was a devoted family man. The details of his wife, Ruth, are under wraps. However, they had three children: Shannon Dean, Terri Olliff, and Leann Dabdoub. Besides arm wrestling, the sportsman loved working on the farm and ran a business selling mobile homes.

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Cleve Dean, the arm wrestler, built a lasting legacy and played a significant role in boosting the popularity of arm wrestling. The American athlete was a friend to many in the sports and film industries, and he left an indelible mark on the lives of everyone he encountered.

READ ALSO: World's best arm wrestlers

Sports Brief published a listicle featuring the top 15 world's best arm wrestlers. The sport, popularly known as pulling, combines practice, strength, and skills. Who are some of the top arm wrestlers worldwide?

American athlete John Brzenk is the Greatest Arm Wrestler of All Time, per The Guinness Book of Records. He participated in his first tournament at 16 and is not retired. Other pullers include Denis Cyplenkov from Ukraine and Canadian Devon Larratt. Check out the complete list in the above article.