Georg Hackenschmidt's grandfather, Christian Philipp Hackenschmidt, a Prussian dyer, accepted Russian citizenship with his wife in 1845. He was known for his impressive strength, fitness and flexibility and, later in life, wrote many books on physical culture, training and philosophy. He is believed to be the creator of the professional wrestling version of the bear hug as well as the person who popularised the hack squat, a deadlift with arms behind the body, Hackenschmidt is also attributed as the creator of the bench press. Hackenschmidt launched his professional career in Reval (Tallinn), Estonia (then part of Russian Empire), at the time when contests were largely legitimate, and lived most of his life in London, England, where he gained the nickname of "The Russian Lion". Georg Karl Julius Hackenschmidt (1 August 1878 – 19 February 1968) was an early 20th-century Estonian Swede strongman, professional wrestler, author, and sports philosopher who is recognized as professional wrestling's first world heavyweight champion. Dorpat, Governorate of Livonia, Russian Empire
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