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'''Paul Grima''' (born April 15, 1950), better known as Mr. Cool, is a Maltese performing strongman from the [[Mediterranean island]] of Malta. Grima performs [[feats of strength]] shows to help raise money for charity.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tvm.com.mt/en/news/watch-at-68-mr-cool-manifests-tremendous-strength-to-assist-others/|title=Watch: At 68, Mr Cool manifests tremendous strength to assist others - TVM News}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://newsbook.com.mt/tag/paul-grima/|title=Paul Grima}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tvm.com.mt/mt/news/ara-ta-68-sena-mr-cool-bsahha-tremenda-biex-jghin-lil-haddiehor/|title=Ara: Ta' 68 sena, Mr Cool b'saħħa tremenda biex jgħin lil ħaddieħor - TVM}}</ref>
== Early life ==
Paul Grima was born to a Maltese family in [[Rabat, Malta]] on the 15 April 1950. From a very young age Grima was interested in [[bodybuilding]] and started training with weights when he was a young teenager. In his teenage years at the age of just 16 years old Grima started working in the [[stone]] [[construction industry]]. This physically intensive work helped to build up his strength during his younger years. Some years later Grima got his [[nickname]] Mr. Cool after assisting a woman who's car had broken down at the side of a road. After lifting the woman's car to change the tire, the woman called him Mr. Cool and from then on Grima was known by his [[nickname]] Mr. Cool which he would later use as his stage name as a performing strongman.
== Training ==
Mr. Cool was mentored by Harold Falzon the nephew of the oldtime Maltese strongman Joe "Powerful" Falzon<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NY_ecJfg380&t=105s</ref> who was one of the first strongmen in the world to successfully pull a full sized jumbo jet.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.guidememalta.com/en/meet-a-living-maltese-legend-joe-falzon-the-powerful|title=Meet a living Maltese legend: Joe Falzon 'The Powerful'|website=www.guidememalta.com}}</ref><ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LocBHOBvdiw</ref> Mr. Cool's training involves the use of specific exercises that focus on strengthing his jaws, neck and ears. Mr. Cool has been documented in using training methods that involve the pulling of [[cars]], [[vans]], [[trucks]] and other heavy vehicles using just his [[teeth]], [[hair]] and [[ears]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://newsbook.com.mt/mr-cool-jigbed-karozza-bi-snienu-b-widnejh-u-b-xaghru/|title=Filmat: Mr Cool: Jiġbed karozza bi snienu, b'widnejh u b'xagħru|first=Catherine|last=Aquilina|date=August 19, 2013}}</ref> In addition to these unorthodox training methods Mr. Cool is also known to perform exercises with his teeth and ears which involve the lifting heavy objects such as loaded barbells, [[washing machines]], [[fridges]], concrete beams, [[motorbikes]] and people. Mr. Cool has also stated that he performs other specific exercises on weight pulley systems to strengthen his [[jaw]] muscles and [[neck]]. Along with these unconventional training methods Mr. Cool has also been recorded in using conventional methods of training such as using [[free weights]] and [[exercise machines]].
== Career ==
Mr. Cool started his performing strongman career when he was in his 40s during the early [[1990s]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCNdc7BUPEs|title=MR COOL 😎 1990S|via=www.youtube.com}}</ref> He was known to perform regularly during the [[1990s]]. From the beginning of Mr. Cool's performing strongman career he dedicated all of his feats of strength shows to raise money for Maltese charities. During these charity shows Mr. Cool performed a series of different [[feats of strength]] which would usually involved the pulling of a truck, bus or other [[heavy vehicle]] with his teeth. Mr. Cool would was also known during this time to perform hair and ear pulling feats by pulling cars, pickup trucks and other heavy vehicles with his pony tail and ears. In addition to these feats Mr. Cool was known to lift heavy objects with his [[teeth]] and [[ears]] during his charity [[performances]].
Mr. Cool continued to perform frequently for charity during the [[2000s]] with his performances often appearing on the local Maltese television news reports. During the [[2010s]] Mr. Cool stopped performing for about three years after the unfortunate passing of his wife. However during these three years Mr. Cool would still occasionally volunteer to help his local community in Rabat.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.illum.com.mt/ahbarijiet/socjali/39460/voluntier_wadu__jnaddaf_post_storiku_firrabat|title=Voluntier waħdu jnaddaf post storiku fir-Rabat|website=MaltaToday.com.mt}}</ref>
In 2016 Mr. Cool decided to return to performing when he teamed up with another Maltese performing strongman called Tony Farrugia<ref>https://lovinmalta.com/malta/is-this-maltas-strongest-man/</ref> to create the strongman charity team called Tony and Cool.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.vida.mt/reallifesupermen/|title=Real Life Supermen|first=Vida|last=Magazine|date=June 20, 2018}}</ref> Mr. Cool went on to perform with Tony Farrugia in several charity shows during the latter part of 2016.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pressreader.com/malta/malta-independent/20161216/281917362720997|title=PressReader.com - Digital Newspaper & Magazine Subscriptions|website=www.pressreader.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WzidRqsBUVs|title=WIRJA TA’ SAĦĦA BARRANIJA MINN MR COOL U TONY 'THE STRONGMAN'|via=www.youtube.com}}</ref>
At the start of 2017 Mr. Cool and Tony were invited on the Maltese television show [[Xarabank]] to perform a number of feats of strength with both Mr. Cool and Tony being recorded in the Malta Records for their respective feats. In this television performance Mr. Cool managed to pull a car up a ramp with his [[pony tail]] which put him in the Malta Records book. Later on in 2017 during a charity show performance for ALS Malta<ref>https://alsmalta.org/</ref> in August 2017 both Mr. Cool and Tony managed to pull a water bowser truck trailer.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tvm.com.mt/mt/news/filmat-fl-eta-ta-67-mr-cool-jigbed-bowser-ghal-puttinu/|title=Filmat: Fl-età ta' 67 Mr Cool jiġbed bowser għal Puttinu - TVM}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://newsbook.com.mt/filmat-jigbdu-bowser-u-jghaffeg-tagen-ghal-puttinu-cares/|title=Filmat: Jiġbdu bowser u jgħaffeġ taġen għal Puttinu Cares|first=Alvin|last=Vassallo|date=August 27, 2017}}</ref> During the rest of 2017 Mr. Cool performed monthly with his team mate Tony Farrugia at a number of different charity events around Malta.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tvm.com.mt/en/news/filmat-fl-eta-ta-67-mr-cvideo-at-the-age-of-67-mr-cool-tows-bowser-to-raise-funds-for-puttinu-caresool-jigbed-bowser-ghal-puttinu/|title=VIDEO: At the age of 67 Mr Cool tows bowser to raise funds for Puttinu Cares - TVM News}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8C6usewYbY|title=Tony Farrugia and Mr Cool Mellieha March 2017|via=www.youtube.com}}</ref>
In 2018 Mr. Cool continued performing regularly with his team mate Tony Farrugia.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://netnews.com.mt/2018/04/27/iktar-minn-290-partecipant-ghal-attivita-brisq-il-fondazzjoni-alive-fhaz-zabbar/|title=Iktar minn 290 parteċipant għal attività b'risq il-Fondazzjoni Alive f'Ħaż-Żabbar|date=April 27, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tvm.com.mt/mt/djarju247/wirjiet-ta-karozzi-u-sahha-brisq-il-fondazzjoni-alive/|title=Wirjiet ta' karozzi u saħħa b'risq il-fondazzjoni Alive - TVM}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jKoQbBryirQ|title=Stunt Bike Riding and Tony and Cool Show Ta Qali Apr 2018|via=www.youtube.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.xarabank.com.mt/2018/03/qasmulu-kantun-fuq-sidru.html|title=Qasmulu kantun fuq sidru}}</ref> In October 2018 Mr. Cool was featured on the Maltese television show Umani on [[Television Malta]] which documented Mr. Cool's life and charity shows.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0xJiYlryTg|title=UMANI STORJA TA' MR COOL|via=www.youtube.com}}</ref>
In 2019 Mr. Cool carried on performing with Tony in various charity shows<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2019-03-14/f1/Another-huge-charity-event-by-Motorsport-enthusiasts-on-31st-March-6736205042|title=Another huge charity event by Motorsport enthusiasts on 31st March - The Malta Independent|website=www.independent.com.mt}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://newsbook.com.mt/shows-minn-tony-farrugia-u-mr-cool-nhar-il-hadd/|title=Shows minn Tony Farrugia u Mr Cool nhar il-Ħadd|first=Coryse|last=Borg|date=May 8, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://one.com.mt/nhar-il-hadd-li-gej-tinsewx-iz-zabbar-autofest/|title=Nhar il-Ħadd li ġej tinsewx iż-Żabbar Autofest - ONE|date=April 27, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://one.com.mt/wirjiet-ta-karozzi-u-sahha-brisq-puttinu/|title=Wirjiet ta’ karozzi u saħħa b’risq Puttinu - ONE|date=May 10, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://netnews.com.mt/2019/05/10/nhar-il-had-edizzjoni-ohra-taz-zabbar-autofest-2019/|title=Nhar il-Ħadd edizzjoni oħra taż-Żabbar Autofest 2019|date=May 10, 2019}}</ref><ref>https://newsbook.com.mt/en/charity-event-by-motorsport-enthusiasts/</ref> until June 2019 when Mr. Cool was involved in a serious accident which involved him falling from a high [[ladder]] and injuring his back. This accident left Mr. Cool out of action for several months. Despite this Mr. Cool's team mate Tony would still continue to perform on his own at a number of different charity events during the following months. During late 2019 Mr. Cool would eventually recover from his serious injuries and subsequently rejoined his team mate Tony in performing at several different charity events during the latter part of 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://pwmalta.com/pro-wrestling-in-milied-fil-misrah/|title=Pro Wrestling in Milied fil-Misrah|date=December 17, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://newsbook.com.mt/milied-fil-misrah-brisq-puttinu/|title=Milied fil-Misraħ b’risq Puttinu|first=Frederick|last=Zammit|date=November 27, 2019}}</ref>
During 2020 Mr. Cool and Tony auditioned for the first ever season of Malta's [[Got Talent]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBKFYoGBtV4|title=Local Ironman is TOO STRONG to handle|via=www.youtube.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://newsbook.com.mt/en/watch-golden-buzzer-for-father-and-son-ghanejja-maltas-got-talent/|title=Watch: Golden Buzzer for father and son ‘għannejja’ – Malta’s Got Talent|first=Coryse|last=Borg|date=November 2, 2020}}</ref> Unfortunately Mr. Cool's team mate Tony would have to pull out of the competition due to an illness in his family which prevented him from performing on the live televised show. Despite this setback however Mr. Cool went on to perform on his own appearing on episode five of Malta's [[Got Talent]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://bay.com.mt/maltas-got-varied-talent-bays-fifth-judge-is-back/|title=Malta's Got....Varied Talent! Bay's Fifth Judge is Back!|date=November 2, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://maltadaily.mt/maltas-got-talent-episode-5-heres-what-to-expect/|title=Malta's Got Talent episode 5: Here's what to expect...|date=November 1, 2020}}</ref><ref>https://malteseblogger.com/maltas-got-talent-fifth-episode/</ref> Mr. Cool successfully passed through to the next round of Malta's [[Got Talent]] after obtaining four yes votes from the panel of judges.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gwida.mt/mt/bil-filmat-lil-mr-cool-jaqsmulu-kantun-fuq-rasu-waqt-malta-s-got-talent|title=Bil-Filmat: Lil Mr Cool Jaqsmulu Kantun Fuq Rasu Waqt Malta's Got Talent!|website=www.gwida.mt}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://entertainmentmalta.com/maltas-got-talent-episode-5-01st-nov-2020/|title=Malta's Got Talent - Episode 5 01st Nov 2020|first=Entertainment|last=Malta|date=November 1, 2020|website=Entertainment Malta}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://newsbook.com.mt/filmat-ikissirlu-kantun-fuq-rasu/|title=Filmat: Ikissirlu kantun fuq rasu|first=Frederick|last=Zammit|date=November 1, 2020}}</ref> In 2020 Mr. Cool was unable to perform for charity due to restrictions on all charity events in Malta because of the [[Corona virus pandemic]].
== References ==
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