Georg Gakkenshmidt Circus athlete, wrestler, multiple world record holder in weightlifting and world champion in French wrestling Country: Estonia

Biography of Georg Hackenschmidt

Georg Hackenschmidt (1878-1968) was a circus athlete, wrestler, multiple world record holder in weightlifting, and world champion in French wrestling. He was born in Tartu, Estonia, and developed a passion for physical exercises while attending a real school. He performed exercises on gymnastic apparatus, excelled in running, swimming, jumping, and worked with dumbbells. In 1895, he moved to Tallinn and started working at a machine-building plant. During this time, he became interested in cycling and won several prizes. Later, his enthusiasm turned to weightlifting, which remained his lifelong passion.

He joined an athletic club and trained extensively on his own. While working at the plant, he made a special pood hammer for his training. He also focused on training with barbells and dumbbells. Hackenschmidt paid particular attention to the development of his leg muscles, using not only specific exercises with a barbell but also jumping over a skipping rope and various obstacles such as tables and chairs. He often climbed the internal staircase of the Oleviste Church spire while carrying a two-pood kettlebell or even putting a boy on his shoulders. He especially loved jumping and achieved a combined jump (height and length) result of 360 cm. Interestingly, he continued practicing jumps well into his old age. Even at the age of 82, Hackenschmidt could jump over a rope stretched between the backs of two chairs, propelling himself with both feet simultaneously from the floor.

His persistent training yielded results. In 1896, he performed a one-arm overhead press of 97 kg and a bicep curl of 56.5 kg with his right arm. He started performing athletic routines in front of audiences under the pseudonym Lenz. He also became acquainted with the famous professional wrestler Georg Lurich, who influenced his interest in wrestling. In 1898, Hackenschmidt moved to St. Petersburg, where he trained under the renowned Dr. V.F. Krayevsky.

Here's how the editor of the "Hercules" magazine, N.V. Lebedev, describes Hackenschmidt's arrival at Krayevsky's club:

"Hackenschmidt entered the gym with an athletic build that immediately attracted attention. His tall stature, broad shoulders, and strong muscles made him look like a Greek statue. His appearance spoke for itself, and he quickly became a favorite among the members of the club."

Hackenschmidt's dedication to physical training and his accomplishments in various sports made him widely popular among sports enthusiasts worldwide.