A comprehensive written profile of Anatoly Parfenov has been released, detailing the life of the Soviet Olympic wrestling champion. Parfenov was a farmer's son of immense strength who served in World War II as both an assault soldier and tanker, meeting victory in Berlin. After only five years of classical wrestling training, he won Olympic gold in the heavyweight division and later coached the legendary Nikolai Balboshin. The article includes interviews with his son and students, plus a visit to his home village of Dvornikovo near Moscow where locals still remember him. Stories include Parfenov crushing a pickpocket's hand on a train, carrying buckets of cabbage with one finger, single-handedly fighting off bandits terrorizing motorists, and hauling logs from the forest either on his shoulders or by pulling carts like a horse.
