Olympic wrestling champion Balboshin describes developing his signature suplex

Five-time world champion and 1976 Olympic wrestling gold medalist Nikolai Balboshin recounted how he developed his signature suplex throw after being called a "pusher" by coach Gromyko at the USSR Championship. Motivated by the criticism, Balboshin forced himself to master the technique, training extensively with weighted spring machines—performing 100 repetitions on each arm after morning, afternoon, and evening sessions. He explained that perfecting the hip explosion was crucial, requiring 20-30 repetitions on a dummy to develop the proper motion. Initially only executing the throw to the left, Balboshin adapted when opponents began avoiding that direction, ultimately mastering the technique in both directions. He described squeezing opponents so tightly with locked elbows that they couldn't breathe or escape, comparing it to a vice grip.