Olympic wrestling legend Nikolai Balboshin describes his legendary grip strength

Five-time world champion and 1976 Olympic champion in Greco-Roman wrestling Nikolai Balboshin discussed his exceptional grip strength in an interview. Balboshin described how he would squeeze opponents' forearms during matches, causing their hands to swell from restricted blood flow, sometimes rendering them unable to continue. He broke a dynamometer that measured up to 120 units when other wrestlers were registering 60-70. During a sparring session with a coach known for hand strength, Balboshin squeezed for several minutes until the coach's fingers appeared flattened. At the 1977 World Championships award ceremony, he gave the King of Sweden a handshake strong enough that he thought the king's fingers cracked, believing it would create a lasting memory.