HOMEWOOD, Pa. -- Not many men outside the realm of superheroes can fold a frying pan like a burrito, but for Bill "Kaz" Kazmaier, it's as trivial as snapping his fingers.
Kazmaier (6 feet 1 inches, 325 pounds), a three-time TransWorld International "World's Strongest man," was in Pittsburgh on Tuesday to help celebrate the YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh's Campaign for Strong Communities.
But Kazmaier's celebration didn't include cake and ice cream, but rather a demonstration of his strength by pulling a school bus full of children at the YMCA in Homewood.
"I look into their eyes and sometimes I'm able to peer right down into their soul and touch their hearts. The message that I deliver I believe really does sink in. Young people realize if they do their very best every single day, they can become better. If they perceive to be a champion, a winner, a striver, and victorious, they can do that, but they just have to believe that they can," said Kazmaier.
He said he became the man that he is today because of what he learned at the YMCA.
"I want to be talking to the youth about the four core values of the YMCA -- honest, respect, responsibility and caring -- and also tell them to shoot for the stars and soar with the eagles. Try to realize their own goals and be the best they can be every day," said Kazmaier.
Kazmaier, 55, played football at the University of Wisconsin-Madison before leaving school to pursue power lifting.
He won the "World's Strongest Man" title three consecutive years in 1980, 1981 and 1982.
He was also a pro wrestler for World Championship Wrestling in the early 90's.
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