NOVEMBER 3, 2015

ALASKA NATIVE GAMES STRENGTH COMPETITOR BIG BOB AIKEN DIED

Born and raised in Barrow, Alaska, in 1953, Aiken was one of the biggest stars — literally and figuratively — at the World Eskimo-Indian Olympics (WEIO). Aiken weighed in at nearly 500 pounds during stages of his competitive career. Big Bob won a record 10 WEIO gold medals in the Eskimo stick pull and was a 7-time champion in the Indian stick pull. After retiring from competition in 1989, he served as a WEIO board member and as announcer at the annual WEIO and Native Youth Olympics competitions. “He used to say he was the biggest Eskimo in the world, but he also had the biggest heart.” In retirement, he co-wrote with Lew Freedman Muktuk & Mukluks: The Life And Times Of The World’s Largest Eskimo. Aiken died in Anchorage.

Source:  Beth Bragg, “Native Sports Icon Big Bob Aiken dies in Anchorage,” Anchorage Daily News, 11/3/2015.  Retrieved 1/2/2024, https://www.adn.com/sports/article/weio-icon-bib-bob-aiken-dies-anchorage/2015/11/04/ 
Photo:  Alaska Public Media.  Public Domain.