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Petr KrylovWeightlifter
Country:
 Russia |
Content:
Biography of Petr Krylov
Early Life and InfluencesPetr Krylov was born in Moscow into a family of a civil servant. His father was a great sports enthusiast, and Krylov idolized him from a young age. He imitated his father's exercises on the rings and participated in various physical games with his peers. Krylov had a passion for adventure and enjoyed reading books by famous authors such as Fenimore Cooper, Mayne Reid, and Jules Verne.
During his time in high school, Krylov spent his evenings at the circus, where he became fascinated with the performances of strongmen and wrestlers. His idol was the athlete Emil Foss, whose style of work he later emulated. Foss would begin his performances by lifting weights with his biceps, then move on to juggling two- and three-pood kettlebells. He would then take a chain and allow the audience to inspect it before tearing it apart with his bare hands. Foss would also wrap a second chain around his chest and, with a deep breath and muscular tension, break it. Another of his acts involved lifting a six-pood ball-shaped barbell with a thick grip that nobody from the audience could even lift off the ground. Foss effortlessly lifted it onto his chest and pressed it upwards. As a finale, he would carry several people on a 4.5-pood barbell.
After his athletic performances, Foss would challenge anyone who dared to compete with him in wrestling. Legends circulated about his feats, including a story in which he prevented a steamship from departing by grabbing a pole and pulling the ship back to the shore. Krylov and his friends eagerly shared these tales and attended the circus performances regularly. They preferred sitting in the gallery, as tickets were cheaper and provided more detailed information about the wrestlers. Inspired by his experiences, Krylov decided to become a circus artist.
Becoming a Professional Athlete
Krylov began his training at home using irons tied to a floor brush. He then started visiting butchers' shops to test his strength by lifting real kettlebells. However, the time came for him to acquire a proper profession. He moved to St. Petersburg, where he completed his education at a maritime school. As a sailor, he embarked on a voyage to India, China, Japan, and England. Throughout his travels, Krylov diligently trained with the kettlebells he carried with him. In every port the ship visited, Krylov visited athletic clubs to compete with local wrestlers. He often performed on the ship's deck, juggling double kettlebell weights and making impressive feats of strength.
After three years at sea, Krylov returned to Moscow for a new assignment. However, his love for the circus prevailed, and he decided to pursue a career as a professional athlete. He initially trained in the gym of Sergei Ivanovich Dmitriev-Morro and later set up his own gym in the basement. He bought barbells and kettlebells and continued training independently. Feeling prepared, Krylov set out to find work. He described this period as follows: "I hesitated for a short time, and on April 25, 1895, I was already standing in Likhachev's tent at Devichye Pole, showing the director my biceps measuring 41 centimeters in circumference. Likhachev examined me from all sides and said, scratching his head, 'You're a real strongman.' I shook hands with this Barnum of mine in a gray jacket, polished boots, and a red bow tie, and our agreement was made. We traveled together to the provinces, performing at small fairs and gardens. I had to work almost every hour, either lifting weights or wrestling with amateurs on belts. Sometimes, before I could even rest and have a cup of tea, the bell in front of the tent door would ring again, and a hoarse voice would shout, 'Come to the theater of living wonders... Among other wonders, the legendary hero Petr Fedotovich Krylov, a native of Moscow, will show incredible feats of strength.' And there I was again, lifting weights on a shaky stage made of wooden planks."
Krylov always worked with weights of the highest difficulty and did not tolerate any deception. It should be noted that fairground spectators loved to touch the kettlebells or chains with which the strongman performed to confirm their authenticity. Sometimes, spectators even came forward as challengers, making it very difficult to defeat them in athletic tricks. Soon, Krylov's name became well-known, and he was invited to perform by many fairground owners. He spent two years working in fairgrounds, during which time he mastered numerous tricks that were highly popular among the audience. He tore chains apart, tied "ties" and "bracelets" from steel strips, lifted horses with their riders, pressed barbells with hollow spheres containing people, bent horseshoes, twisted coins, and performed stretches with four horses. Krylov particularly excelled in his kettlebell routines, surpassing any other athlete of his time in demonstrating "tricks" with this classic piece of equipment used by Russian strongmen.
Circus Performances and Achievements
Krylov then started performing at the Kamchatka Circus and later at the Borovsky Circus, with which he traveled throughout Siberia for three years. He entertained audiences with his athletic acts and provided lively commentary throughout his performances.
Krylov possessed an exceptional muscular relief and volume. His anthropometric measurements were as follows: height - 170 cm, weight - 88 kg, chest circumference - 123 cm, biceps - 46 cm, neck - 47 cm, forearm - 35 cm, thigh - 67 cm. He set several world records in weightlifting. His personal records included a left-arm bench press of 114.6 kg, 86 repetitions of a left-arm press with a two-pood kettlebell, and performing a standing wrestler's bridge while pressing an eight-pood barbell with both hands and spreading straight arms to the sides with 41 kg kettlebells. Krylov continued performing until the age of 60.
Overall, Petr Krylov left a lasting impact on the world of circus arts, showcasing immense strength and skill with his performances.
