Russian Wrestler Archives - www.oldtimestrongman.com

Nikolai Vahturov

Posted on Wednesday, November 16th, 2022 by John Wood

After graduating high school, Nikolai Vahturov worked as a cashier on a steam ship and was then drafted into the army, where, as luck would have it, he served along side Mitrofan, the brother of the famous wrestler Ivan Poddubny.

Mitrofan talked so greatly of his brother and his victories over world-class wrestlers that Nikolai decided to follow the same path. In St. Petersburg, Mitrofan eventually introduced Nikolai to his famous brother and Ivan Podduby, seeing his great potential, took Nikolai under his wing as a student.

Vahturov’s ring exploits are spotty, not much is easily found in English this side of the Volga but it appears that he won the Graeco-Roman World Heavyweight championship in 1909 and 1913 (evidently defeating Jaan Jaago in the former.

Alex Aberg

Posted on Wednesday, November 27th, 2013 by John Wood

An extremely rare picture of the great Estonian wrestler Alexander Aberg who was also Georg Lurich’s brother-in-law. On his way to the World Wrestling Championship in 1915, Aberg defeated the likes of Dr. Benjamin Roller (of America), Wladek Zbyszko (of Poland), Pierre La Colosse (of France), Harry De Nys (of Belgium) Leo Pardell (of Italy), Sulo Hevonpaa (of Finland) and Johan Tigane (of Mongolia).

Ivan Shemyakin

Posted on Thursday, August 1st, 2013 by John Wood

Ivan Shemyakin

Born in a small village near Moscow Ivan Shemyakin ran off to join the circus when he was fifteen years of age to become a strongman and wrestler. He was quite skilled in both areas, winning the kettlebell lifting championship of Russia in 1899 and a World Championship in wrestling in 1913.

The Russian Hercules: Ivan Poddubny

Posted on Friday, September 2nd, 2011 by John Wood

Ivan Poddubny

Ivan Poddubny was one of the greatest of the Russian Strongman /Wrestlers (of which there were many). He was born in a small village and worked hard jobs even from a young age.
After some training, he joined the Russian circus, performing feats of strength and wrestling all comers. The sash he is wearing in this picture is most likely from the 1908 World Championship, which he won by defeating his friend Ivan Zaikin. This was his fifth World Championship title. Even to this day, Poddubny is still a well-known sports hero in Russia and several big wrestling tournaments bare his name.