The Scariest Monster in Sports History - Alexander Karelin

[@tupera1]

What really impressed me is his character. Never out of control, not mean spirited, not angry. Always breaking immediately at the whistle. No dirty tricks. Just a great, by the books, sportsman!!!

[@michaelpark5681]

I wonder if his character was a function of his supremacy that did not necessitate any of the things you mentioned.

[@MorellioBenoir]

Yeah like if we watch John Jones it is fingers in the eye right away, and he can really get in there. Deep. The only thing close is Sumo, it happens every other month and it is way cleaner, but there are no weight classes. At all. 200lb vs 400lb go!

[@P-G-77]

Exact, true i noted the same, the character is vastly different of MANY OTHERS i remember... and i view now...

[@Romanus-]

@@TheWatchernatoryep, very true

[@Sam-uz4iy]

@@michaelpark5681 Being the best at something doesn't mean you will naturally be calm and collected, look at Mike Tyson. Untouchable at his peak, but he's a mad man both on and off the ring.

[@Az-om8rw]

Six years without losing a single point! It's extremely rare to see such dominance in any sport. The G.O.A.T. No question.

[@242feder]

Doping do wonders...

[@arizjones]

PEDs. About as legitimate as Lance Armstrong

[@jimmicrackhead12]

GROAT. Greatest roids of all time

[@laudreport3798]

Bah... Bah... Bah... Nothing but damn lamb❗🐏

[@Youtubeisranbypussies]

All them Greco wrestlers were on steroids, yall really need to shut the fuk up.

[@benjaminlatimer6676]

Man walked into an MMA fight, DIDNT STRIKE, DIDNT TRAIN FOR IT AND ABSOLUTELY DOMINATED

[@nuclear9977]

He knew he could kill that pro so he just clinched and threw him around 😂😂

[@youwantmyname9208]

Brute force + PhD in wrestling makes you almost a complete MMA fighter

[@relaxationparadise7645]

A living ZANGIEF. No mma needed. Just SLAM.

[@lennaymaboyyy4848]

at the at point in the world of MMA if you had elite wrestling that’s all you needed to be successful

[@LMW87MMA]

That was not a legitimate MMA fight. It was with Akira Maeda in RINGS, two red flags that both make it obvious that it was a work

[@devanman7920]

Undefeated for so long, a doctorate in sports, writes poetry, donates his million dollar paycheck to wrestling. Seriously he's everything every man wants to be. What a legend.

[@kona744]

Yes. THis is a life well lived!!!

[@idrisahmed2659]

Reminds me of Muhammad ali ....

[@devanman7920]

@@idrisahmed2659 100% id argue Ali is even better

[@OdenDChad]

Idk about that Karelin is really a legend of it's own. There are some sport legends that are like sooo ahead it's competition it doesn't seem real. Karelin,Buakaw,Seincho,Novak,Ronnie o Sullivan,idk who else.​@@devanman7920

[@jasonkramer1394]

@@devanman7920probably because you're balck

[@felipearaujo9673]

If this man was born a couple thousand years ago, he would be considered a mythological hero!

[@grsamael]

Indeed! A real life Hercules!

[@babybackbish]

No roids back then lol

[@hexrag5901]

only if you could send all those drugs back in time too

[@Lemjanmusic]

​@@babybackbish😂

[@kafka27]

Of course no roids.. LOL@@babybackbish

[@daves4081]

Alexander didn't lose, at least not in my book. It took a rule change and years of hurt on his body to get someone else to win... to me, that is an hommage to his greatness!

[@fishpants3877]

Karelin lost. But the other guy DEFINITELY did not win. Made me ill watching his coaches swarm him in love after Karelin lost.

[@manumaster1990]

exactly.

[@aksmex2576]

@@fishpants3877 The fact that the rule was cancelled right after speaks volumes.

[@KickYourHeadOff]

100%

[@ConnorSt]

@@Aggrobiscuit that rule was not changed specifically for his match at all, and Rulon Gardners "special ability" wasn't benefitting from that rule change, it was that his cardio was insane for his size. Also that rule was changed a year later, not immediately after the match.

[@MrLuchenkov]

People also need to comprehend that before Karelin, such lifts, in the heavyweight greco-wrestling category, were just unheard of. Men who weight 270+ pounds, resisting lifts, don't tend to go airborne or even leave the ground much. It takes phenomenal strength to lift another man like that and throw him around like he's a doll. Karelin is and will likely remain the undisputed GOAT of greco-roman wrestling.

[@sexyhedgehog7033]

I gasped when I watched him lift that 280 pound man while having 2 broken ribs.

[@MrLuchenkov]

@@sexyhedgehog7033 Right? I can barely lift my towel with a broken rib and this guy was lifting another massive beast.

[@eugenegreen2285]

you should google Deestacles, the 2nd Century Roman slave who won his freedom as a wrestler.

[@ericholland-cr1nt]

If this dude was younger imagine what hed do in mma?

[@8kigana]

@@ericholland-cr1nt you must have missed the Japanese wrestler who used low kicks on him? That dude had to have assistance to his corner and to his locker, you know what what'd he do in mma as a youngster.

[@asatruvakning]

"Those kicks didn't sit well with Karelin, so he quickly introduced him to Siberian Airlines," LMFAO

[@uoskispuoskis]

;Dd

[@lordeadshot3362]

That was cold fr😂

[@İbrahimMoncada-l1h]

LMAO

[@Johnbobon]

Imagine being ashamed of a 1-0 loss after going undefeated for 13 years. That hits hard.

[@gregparrott]

And, it was because of a rule change. Worse still, the rule is capricious and artificial. Mandating that one can release their hands while bear hugging the opponent runs counter to the sport itself. After this event, the rule was dropped.

[@jimmicrackhead12]

Imagine if they had USADA back then

[@IronLife1386]

@@jimmicrackhead12 they did.....thats how some from those Olympics have gotten caught.

[@jimmicrackhead12]

@@IronLife1386 in the 80s and 90s? Hell no

[@IronLife1386]

@@jimmicrackhead12 The match he was referencing to and that you replied to was about the 2000 olympics. I didn't say those earlier. Of course they had it in the 80s and 90s, most countries did. Russian had a science program dedicated to it, kinda like china does now. Figure out the loopholes to it in modern sports and they all do it. It's not really that big of a secret in modern sports.

[@Archer89201]

Lifting heavyweight opponents with broken ribs and torn muscle is absolutely unimaginable feat of strength both mental and physical

[@julendominadas4040]

i couldnt even move when i broke mine

[@insidiousmaximus]

juice

[@Jerry-yr1en]

@@insidiousmaximus genetics, don’t compare UFC and ONE championship to Olympians

[@jadrankotesanovic2844]

What did you say IDIOT ? ​@@insidiousmaximus

[@Turgid_Spleenis]

@@Jerry-yr1enHe’s a Russian athlete in the peak of the blatant steroid abuse era of sports. He is an enhanced athlete, as were most of his opponents. Get over it.

[@TheEtherea]

So basically they found a guy heavy enough even he couldn't lift and made a special rule where a competitor could get a point. Can't beat em, change the rules. Way to go.

[@ГеоргийРусый]

В этом вся суть сша

[@humanbeing5918]

yeah that was a shameless robbery, but hopefully everybody knowledgeable understands it and doesn't put to much significance into that "loss"

[@RawrGhosty]

bro tf u on about if the rules are the same for both of them then the chances are the same for both of them is ur brain ok ??

[@TheEtherea]

@@RawrGhosty to begin with that was clearly a novel position to create, second as someone with broken bones in my hand over years and general damage, creating a situation where I would need to hold hands indefinitely like that would put me at a disadvantage because at some moment my hand would give up, not a matter of strength, stamina or willpower. Accumulated damage is a bitch against a much younger opponent. And having a point lost for such an arbitrary thing that was removed immediately after was nothing more than a fuck you.

[@SupaGamerz67]

@@ГеоргийРусыйThe US isn’t the only one that makes the rules for the Olympics cailleach.

[@clifcoleman3675]

887 win and only 2 losses (because they had to change rules for his opponents) is absolutely insane! Best to ever do it hands down

[@giostisskylas]

In his private life, Alexander Karelin is an intellectual with a subtle sense of humor. He loves listening to classical music and reading the books of the world's great literats. Not just an exceptional athlete, but also an exceptional character.

[@dontfuckingcry1965]

He was someone I looked up to a few years ago, now I look down on him. I used to look up to him when he threw people off the carpet, but now he only throws people out of windows and balconies if Putin wants him to? Is he as corrupt as all other politicians in Russia? I can imagine that his favorite composer is Richard Wagner and are you sure that he reads the books, it's not like he burns books on a bonfire or reads them and then changes the books so that the Russian population won't read anything inappropriate ? I don't know if you are that intellectual or have a sense of humor if you are involved in sending off several 100,000 young men in their prime to die and even more to be injured for life in a completely pointless war, have you followed the propaganda spied from Russia, you are not intellectual, rather the opposite and an evil person who murders civilians!

[@Humanophage]

Unfortunately, in his private life, he has criminal connections and works for a highly corrupt party.

[@ernstjung6234]

@@Humanophage All governments are corrupted, that's capitalism for you. You are just brainwashed into this me. vs them mindset.

[@MartinMalmy]

@@Humanophage say that without crying.

[@manumaster1990]

@@Humanophage no.

[@Antipodean33]

I've had cracked and broken ribs a few times during my life and the pain is very real, you can't hardly take a breath let alone take a deep breath. For him to continue to compete with compromised ribs, throwing heavy men around, (who are also trying to throw you around) in a sport like this is literally super human material. That is toughness and a very strong will power

[@Hentai-Semite]

The strongest Athlete besides Wilt Chamberlain . The fact that he was able to still beat 250+ pound monsters with broken ribs(only rivaled by how old retired Wilt humilated young Magic Johnson ) shows that he was at least 30% stronger than the rest.

[@pizzapie4me]

100%. I've played bike polo with broken ribs, and while I was still performing pretty well, I cannot imagine lifting any of my competitors in such condition.

[@iamamoghalfmanhalfdog5325]

Whilst i agree its debilitating broken ribs dont really hurt much for the the first few hours and gradually become excruciating over the following days.

[@IvaNovaaaaaaa]

Ребра он ломал 18 раз. За 13 лет. Заживает такая травма 6 месяцев. То есть он практически всегда испытывал эту боль. ​@@iamamoghalfmanhalfdog5325

[@Banana_Split_Cream_Buns]

Did you crack ribs or the cartlidge? The cartlidge is what will make you in pain unable to breathe.

[@nicoelgreeko]

He's not just lifting a body, he's hoisting a resisting, trained wrestler and helicopter/power bombing them on their heads and necks in most cases. Karelin is a scary dude!

[@wasabi5338]

not to mention those wrestlers are 130kg all muscle and arent built symmetrically like barbells too making it more difficult to lift

[@joeaardvark9214]

I was gonna say this same thing. Lifting 260lbs off the ground is one thing. Lifting a 260lb MAN off the ground, who doesn't want to be lifted... is something completely different.

[@altruismfirst6489]

@@joeaardvark9214 Not to mention, he could have had a rest for 6 months and come back stronger if he let his body heal after a punishing 13 years of toil. Looks like he never rested due to his loyalty to his Nation and fans.

[@ferilobor9787]

not lifting, throwing them over xDD

[@ExtraterrestrialBeing-jc7to]

I kicked his ass..

[@jgirling6890]

Man dominated with 2 broken ribs... What an absolute machine!!!

[@studywithshubhamsemwal]

​@@ernesttrosmanHe is ripped. But the others are fat. So, basically equal weight.

[@user-jd1mq8gg7e]

He didnot

[@Potor2potor21]

@@ernesttrosman He's just an ordinary Russian man from Siberia.

[@alimbo9436]

This man is, to me, a role model for all young men to follow. He is strong, but fair. A righteous man who care about others and is not in it just for himself. He has values. The fact he donated his proceeds to the Russian Wrestling Federation, the fact that upon retiring he wrote poetry and helped boys learn wrestling. All of that makes him even more impressive.

[@paulk9603]

Yes

[@timloth2994]

He is what I call a true Russian man. I couldn't imagine anyone else being called the bear with that record (887/2)

[@mattbarker1411]

He was on steroids his entire career. 😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@MegaVodka]

​@@mattbarker1411like every other champion since the invention of steroids

[@TheNinj47]

i would have agreed but hes a criminal, a thief and an opportunist as a member of putins party united russia and member of the russian state duma

[@soom878]

Wow this unit of a man broke 2 ribs and still won olympia gold, without painkillers, tore a pec muscle and still went to olympia not giving up, you can see that he is really not fit, he cant do his throws but he still won gold again, absolutley unbelievable, highest amount of respect i ever felt for a sportsman.

[@forzajuve4845]

big deal..franz beckenbauer played with a broken collarbone

[@soom878]

@@forzajuve4845 whats your problem man?

[@phuongvu527]

Of fucking course it was a big deal 😂 You talk as if fighting with 2 broken ribs is easy.

[@Staroy]

@@forzajuve4845 playing soccer with a broken collarbone lol, you dont need that for soccer comparatively to wrestling and ribs..

[@Pascarable]

because chasing a ball is the same as actually fighting a man, get a grip loser@@forzajuve4845

[@jmsa2760]

Good to keep in mind that he defended his PhD BEFORE the last Olympics. What he got in 2002 (AFTER the 2000 Olympics) was Habilitation, which is an academic test to be granted a professorship of some kind (types vary). This means that he was also a researcher and a Doctor as he was competing and destroying opponents. Not just muscles, also plenty of brain.

[@docalexander2853]

Did he take steroids?

[@aufkeinsten7883]

@@docalexander2853 My dear brother in christ, every wrestler you have seen in this video was on steroids. But I appreciate your innocence

[@superdupermax]

So... he is modern day Platto.

[@NotAdamSnider]

​@docalexander2853 steroids are prolly your excuse anytime you see someone muscular or great at a sport. Just your low self esteem and lack of confidence showing thru.

[@cristianenache8715]

Take that with a grain of salt. In Russia, you can be a PHD without ever stepping foot in the university. Corruption is theough the roof in communist countries. All top level athletes had a special pass to do anything and were appreciated and included by the mafia. If he indeed studied for real, that's awesome. And being the determined guy he is, I'm sure he could have studied, but knowing what Russia is like, i'm not very sure it's 100% true

[@Songfugel]

Oh man, I had completely forgotten him! Even here in Finland we were big fans of him at the time, he was so cool, collected and dominant athlete

[@joshm3129]

I broke a back rib near the bottom from vomiting violently and it hurt taking a breath.For him to continue wrestling with 2 broken ribs is unfathomable.I have all the respect in the world for this madman/legend!

[@kassiocabral1639]

I never knew vomiting can make someone break a rib.

[@BenMcDougall]

Sneezing could break one too. It’s probably rare, but it could happen.@@kassiocabral1639

[@Felale]

Adrenaline is a hell of a drug.

[@georgiosnmanesiotis9561]

Dude ,you re a legend of your own...

[@joshm3129]

​@@georgiosnmanesiotis9561🙏👊

[@harryf1ashman]

I am not a fan of wrestling but this guy's greatness transcends the sport. I don't think you have to be Russian to want to see him dominate.

[@SpaceMissile]

wrestling is pretty cool in its own way. it's extremely difficult. striking is hard too, and you have to train and be in top shape and whatever, but this style of wrestling is absolutely exhausting. nearly every muscle in your body gets used.

[@dkdonkeykong4870]

yeah i just dont like the whole point idea should be submission@@SpaceMissile

[@SpaceMissile]

@@dkdonkeykong4870 it's just two different rule-sets. side note: as a guy who's done BJJ and high-school wrestling, it's waaaay easier to find a choke-hold or arm-bar and make them tap than it is to pin their back to the mat. IMO

[@josiahgonzalez942]

Agreed. Especially if the other guy is a good wrestler aswell. I dont train but i know its harder than it looks​@@SpaceMissile

[@sleepyjoe7616]

He is remembered for losing to a fatass.

[@harrychapin808]

Alexander DIDN'T LOSE!! The rules were changed for the dairy farmer!Not only was ALEXANDER the BEST WRESTLER... he was the BEST SPORTSMAN!! ALWAYS CARRIED HIMSELF WITH DIGNITY and HONOR!!

[@Monkey-kq1cr]

L

[@popcorngenerator1925]

Easy on the capslock

[@harrychapin808]

@@popcorngenerator1925 POSHEL NA HOY!!

[@popcorngenerator1925]

​@@harrychapin808little sensitive, aren't we

[@harrychapin808]

@@popcorngenerator1925 About as sensitive as I get when I remove your eyeball and chew on it while you watch- YUMMY 😋!! 👁‍🗨 Gotta sauté it 1st, of course!!

[@basmong]

It's impossible not to respect this person!

[@jmgallo7434]

Karelin was a scholar and a warrior. There's a quote I think of when I look at him... "A society that separates its warriors and scholars will have its thinking done by cowards and its fighting done by fools." He was neither.

[@stevenobrien7686]

Where is that quote from?

[@dancooper4733]

That's not Karelin's quote.

[@jannikthorsen3531]

Thucydides 460 B.C. - 395 B.C.

[@SiGa-i1r]

I met a PhD holder who was a massive fool. Education does not make anyone wise.

[@chafikjaaouan7347]

@@SiGa-i1r that is such a stupid take. just like saying not every murderer is evil, yes ofcourse not every single one is evil, but the chance that a murderer is evil is big just like the chance that a scholar is wise is bigger then a random dude.

[@sombojoe]

Karelin did not “lose” a point; he “gave” a point. Unbelievable man!

[@Derek4k]

nah he lost 3 points to big man. he took em

[@giffysstiffy887]

​@@Derek4kYou are talking about Rulon Gardner and it was only one move so sombojoe is basically RIGHT😎🙂 I have a theory why you didn't mention Rulons name

[@Derek4k]

buddy, if each time they size up and there are points to be won, then the person who didnt win missed out on getting one. so he lost on the option to aquire a point. he was not able to give that point to the other guy. basically he lost 3 points to BIG MAN.@@giffysstiffy887

🤣😂

[@bruceli9094]

It's sad he lost to Gardner (USA). Reminds me of the old proverb, there's ALWAYS someome bigger badder out there.

[@jdaniels1313]

I liked his quote how he "had not yet learned how to talk about that defeat", a more sportsmanlike "no comment", and consistent with his mindset, without seeming arrogant, and willing to talk about all other subjects. I also did not know about his remarkable academic achievements during the same time he was wrestling and beating the whole world.

[@football360_slik]

All respect to this guy. He is a warrior. Real warrior

[@TheNaqoyqatZ]

Alexander Karelin, you let no one down. You had an amazing run! Nobody reigns at the top forever.

[@dennisdoe2307]

Had the honor to meet him at a wrestling competition (as a visitor). Very humble guy. Respected every weightclass and watched their fights.

[@iraidushka]

Indeed! He is described to be humble, composed, kind and sweet in real life 😅

[@Danial.999]

Such athletes are in the league of their own. One can't even begin to imagin how much blood, sweat and tears go behind the scene and how strong of mental fortitude one need to reach a level that can't be surpassed in whole century.

[@keres9580]

I would argue that this guy is possibly the most dominant athlete in any sport, maybe ever.

[@c99kfm]

There's a reason why, when you talk about the dominance of Wilt Chamberlain or Don Bradley, you need to be careful and talk about "team" sport.

[@yuvrajganguly]

​@@c99kfm*Bradman. Don Bradman

[@c99kfm]

@@yuvrajganguly Sorry, I suck at names, it takes some repetition before they sink in - and I don't watch cricket, so I don't get that repetition there. Thanks for the correction!

[@Calel_S]

This man is an absolute specimen. I admire his insane ability to just consistently ragdoll 260+lb men as if he were playin with his children. @16:02 The fact that this great conquerer earned a million in one match and then proceeds to donate all of it to one of his own countries wrestlin programs is beyond honorable. This pedigree of mighty man is almost extinct.

[@DeeJay003]

Well said.

[@nd7]

I recall the joke (or real?) about Karelin's first loss. The opponent was asked by reporters how he managed to defeat Karelin. He said, "We were in tight and trying to out grip each other. Suddenly, there were a pair of balls in front of me, and I got an idea. I opened my mouth and bit them with every ounce of my jaw strength." The reporters gasped! The opponent continued, "you cannot imagine the strength you get when you bite your own balls!"

[@latze74]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣😁😁😁😁😁

[@xExekut3x]

i laughed for a about a minute

[@bsoneyc]

Damn!!!!!

[@1myunderscore]

BILLY 😢

[@mr.n5732]

😂😂😂

[@i.sbhachu2609]

Alexander Karelin is literally Zangief from Street Fighter! What an incredible athlete he was!!

[@REAL2222ful]

Be the Russian the Japanese think you are...

[@thandomzamo8575]

So true 😂

[@o.b.9087]

Allow me to correct, in his first Olympics at 88', he had the same exact muscles like Sagat. His physic was out of this planet, comic like.

[@illyakrit7494]

I think he was inspirated by Karelin

[@eba6949]

Garland from Baki

[@Pallehz]

there will never be another. The absolute greatest ever

[@Thisisahandle701]

partly because of improved drug testing

[@Pallehz]

@@Thisisahandle701 please, can you imagine him with today's version of drugs that the current athletes are using? Dude would be even more scary. I can't stand when ppl think someone isn't as good because they use gear when everyone else is using as well. Taking gear doesn't make you good at something. You can't just take gear, pick up a baseball bat and become a pro ball player. All the gear allows you to do is to do more reps and practice harder. The only reason AAS are scheduled is because some moron back in the day thought it was cheating. That someone, wasn't an endocrinologist and didn't have any idea wtf exogenous hormones even are. Or did you think Usain Bolt and Michael Phelps are natural? lol

[@Thisisahandle701]

@@Pallehz Gear isn't everything, but gear would help in say... performing feats of superhuman strength at the highest level of wrestling competition, like picking up a grown man off the floor and throwing him. The systematic state-sponsored doping of Soviet athletes is a very well known fact at this point, it continued even after the fall of the Soviet Union. Russia's Olympic doping scandal was famously detailed in the documentary Icarus 2017.

[@Pallehz]

@@Thisisahandle701 so would he better or worse with modern gear, equipment and training that modern athletes use today, in your opinion? In my opinion, he'd be even better with a longer career if he was allowed to take modern gear and have better technology.

[@Thisisahandle701]

@@Pallehz "Better" gear in this context means "less detectable with modern testing methods" it doesn't mean "superior performance". In my opinion you can tell Karelin is a natural freak athlete based on his physique at a young age, but the footage of him later on when he looks like a literal bodybuilder with protruding 3d delts just looks saucy. Yes, he was a freakishly talented and strong athlete, but if adding anabolic steroids grants an extra 5%, at the highest level of competition, that's SOMETIMES the difference between successfully pulling off his "signature move" to score that extra point, and not doing so.

[@shawnj1679]

I remember hearing about Karelin when I was a wrestler in high school and how everyone feared him. I imagine that going into wrestle against Karelin was a lot like going in to box with TYSON in his prime. Opponents lost long before the match even started. Opponents had been having vivid nightmares and woke up sweating for weeks once they new they were going to have to face Alexander Karelin.

[@Carlos-qs8xf]

This comment made my day. I can't stop laughing.

[@i.fernandes]

Not a fair comparison. Lots of fighters beat the crap out of Tyson, only one man beat Karelin, by a single point, and they had to change the rules for it to happen. If you compare with boxers it's more like Rocky Marciano, Sugar Ray Robison, Joe Louis, etc.

[@riceeater79]

@@i.fernandes lol no, the correct comparison to Karelin in boxing would be Jack Johnson

[@Bialy_1]

@@riceeater79 Jack Johnson must have been your cellmate that was making sweet love to you every night... And now you want to share what a "vivid nightmare" is to you...

[@joemagarac405]

⁠@@i.fernandesTyson in his prime was scary af. If Cus D’Amato had not died when Tyson was so young, he might have been the greatest ever.

[@jokervienna6433]

As a Swede, I of course watched the matches he had with Thomas. Karelin... was a monster. Insane. I´m writing this with all respect to Karelin, monster meaning incredibly good.

[@DimaRonin-d3e]

Швед под полтавой.я русский

[@WaniZame]

I love that he’s now a poet and children’s instructor. Clearly a sweetheart under that terrifying exterior.

[@bandit6272]

I can imagine him defending his PhD. "Umm, Mr. Karelin....this is perfect! We have absolutely nothing to ask or add. Can we have your autograph, sir?"

[@stealthassasin1day291]

I remember watching Gardner vs Karelin as a kid on the Olympics. At the time I can awestruck at Karelin, didn't even realized his previous accolades and was at the end of his career. It was grueling match. Much respect to this human whom truly was a beast and a giant among men.

[@johnnyredux4019]

"Steadily increasing the list of men who involuntarily defied gravity." What a line!!

[@SarkkiKarkki]

They did it! The video I was hoping for, Karelin might be the most accomplished combat sports athlete of all time.

[@gypsylips1950]

what? you would've been fine saying most accomplished wrestler. Most accomplished "combat sports" athlete? That's an insane statement. More accomplished than Henry Cejudo with an olympic gold medal and championships in 2 UFC divisions?? More accomplished than Alex Pereira with world championships in 2 kickboxing divisions and 2 UFC divisions? More accomplished than Fedor, undefeated for 10 years in heavyweight MMA and a Sambo world grandmaster? Nah bro

[@youwantmyname9208]

​@@gypsylips1950maybe not the most accomplished, but definitely the most dominant in combat sports

[@Jerry-yr1en]

@@gypsylips1950the thing Karelin would’ve beaten them if he joined mma

[@dovahkiin117]

@gypsylips1950 you are the a joke bro, you really just put on par, pereira who fought only like 3-4 time combined in both of those categories after his belt (and stil lost his first belt after a few months) , henry cejudo who only fought like 6 times after his first bealt ( and still lost at least one time). And fucking FEDOR who destroyed a lot of future world champion in ufc and hasn't lost a single time in 10 years in the best organisation at the time ?? Bro you clearly an mmx stop spouting bullshit, i would have understood if you said at least gsp, jone, silva or even mighty mouse but 2 of the 3 name you said to be better than karylin are fucking jokes compared to the monster karylin was.

[@pennywise1682]

​@@gypsylips1950lol, def more accomplished then these two. From all the combat athletes you pick Cejudo and Perreira. You must be out of your mind

[@brat3k]

No matter where he comes from... HE'S LEGEND. Greatest of all time :)

[@KarmaFlight]

Fighting with broken ribs! Holy cow, the man is amazing!

[@OBrandt-i5c]

......and without painkillers

[@mr.jollybear5180]

I cannot imagine. 2 weeks ago I fractured my rib playing with my daughter and still in pain, barely can do anything, yet this guy managed not only to perform but to win. Wow!

[@MrNanood]

It was not him who was locked in pain. This pain was locked with him.

[@kalujny]

That happens when you are literally made out of heaps of muscle.

[@АндрейНикитенко-ф4с]

This is the old principle of the Soviet athlete: "IT DOESN'T HURT ME". I was once taught the same way.

[@josephmozena7640]

I can't imagine training my whole life to get to the top of the wrestling world, fighting close matches with the other world greats to victory, and then entering the ring against this man and getting picked up and thrown out of the ring. It's just unreal. I'm amazed nobody just walked away. "Yeah, silver seems good. You can have this one."

[@davidfalcone4736]

He was the beast of all beasts I remember watching The rulon Jones started rooting for Jones and then ended up rooting for the Siberian

[@vralla]

My Dad was a wrestler, they don't like losing. He tore his shoulder muscles because he lifted another guy over his head, from behind him, and slammed him down. He won the match, still has shoulder pain. Ehe... "Never go half speed".

[@tappajaav]

You don't become one of the best in the world by being content with silver medals.

[@scubbarookie]

He is and will always be considered the greatest of all time! Due to age and injuries, he retired and is a living hero and legend to many athletes and wrestlers alike. The man is very admirable for having a great attitude and sportsman spirit that has risen to the level of successful legend! He continues to inspire the youth in his fellow country and those abroad. Long live his legacy!

[@jha123salt6]

Greatest of all time in gay porn

[@AiVaultGuy]

steroids, steroids, steroids

[@kristoffer3000]

@@AiVaultGuy cope, cope, cope

[@Jerry-yr1en]

@@AiVaultGuy stay jealous jealous jealous

[@Kasper_K]

@@AiVaultGuybullshit from someone has no idea that even with steroids (even though he dis not) there is 0% chance of winning at that level. Trust me this guy is the wolf of wrestling street, he did beyond everyone else just in training. I know, i saw, i lived in his era, he inspired me. He was just a guy that figured out that mega hard work, pays out.

[@jonassundell9366]

Oh, but he was simply the best. Ever! Viva Siberia! Kind regards from gothenburg Sweden. ❤

[@dfdfdgggjhjjh5081]

I’m so glad finally someone made a good career documentary on this guy. One of the greatest athletes of all time.

[@prabeernair]

Alexander Karelin, you're not just a goat; you're a symbol of resilience, determination, and unmatched spirit. Your journey embodies the power of overcoming obstacles with grace and strength. In a world that can sometimes be challenging, you stand tall, reminding us all that even in the face of adversity, we can rise above and achieve greatness. Your story is an inspiration, urging us to embrace our unique qualities and forge ahead with unwavering confidence. Keep being the incredible goat that you are, and may your path continue to inspire others to reach new heights. You're not just a goat; you're a beacon of inspiration for us all.

[@creon3866]

Don’t forget steroid abuse

[@logosfocus]

🤌🏻💉 📈

[@242feder]

Another orc cheater in the doping program

[@nicholasdipilla6993]

Insane to think that there are 3 losers that all comented the same thing about steroids like 3 bot's in a row , while probably sitting on a couch doing absolutely nothing worthy of their life , end up projecting their insecurities on one of the greatest wrestler of all time. Who cares at this point if he did juice or not , the man still put in the work and had determination and respect for what he cared about. A lot of athlete's nowadays do enhancing drugs and you guys just don't know it by now. Grow up.

[@jimherold7827]

Jesus dude, I cringed so hard reading this.

[@neuro1921]

The man is an anomaly that has never happened before and will probably never happen again in this extreme dominance. And what many people don't know is that he wasnt only the strongest but also has a very high IQ.

[@richardthomas5362]

That combination made him extraordinary.

[@norikofu509]

Did he had a PhD in Russian Literature by any chance?

[@qeefu]

Pretty much all champions are masterminds.

[@fil4648]

He was just unlucky that wrestling is not a more popular sport. Because in terms of dominance and athletic ability, he's up there with mj or Messi

[@Jerry-yr1en]

@@qeefu not all

[@RobertPreeti]

He makes olympic class heavyweight wrestlers look ordinary and helpless. Lifting 270+ pound world class wrestlers and throwing them around. Karelin was in his own league. No one even came close. Colossal strength and fitness. Great human being. Role model for everyone. Huge salute.❤

[@NPCNo-xm2li]

That feeling when you are so ridiculously strong and jacked that people aren't asking whether or not you're using roids, but wondering if you are actually a human. What a beast.

[@duke927]

I think steroids is a very real possibility.

[@advayiyer6456]

@duke927 definetly likely had roids, but so did everyone else, still a freak of nature, a true beast

[@ryanmason9320]

@duke927 I doubt steroids were the reason he was a 12 pound baby born to 5'5 inch parents. Dude was a genetic freak from the start

[@emulation2369]

He was huge even as a teen

[@datacipher]

🤦🏻‍♂️🤦🏻‍♂️🤦🏻‍♂️ok I know you are probably young kids… but… do I really have to tell you? Everyone knew he was on massive juice… THAT’S WHY THEY CALLED HIM THE EXPERIMENT! Lol…. It wasn’t because he loved laboratory work. Sometimes I just don’t know lol.

[@deadnemesis6784]

Gets his thigh impacted by a heavyweight MMA champion's kick... "I was of the understanding that it hurt". What a beast!

[@АндрейНикитенко-ф4с]

This is the old principle of the Soviet athlete: "IT DOESN'T HURT ME". I was once taught the same way.

[@johnbannon2812]

No experiment. Greatest Greco Roman wrestler of the 20th century. A great ambassador of the sport. A great example of a very hard worker both on and off the mat

[@mattbarker1411]

Lie. Dude juiced his whole career.

[@MegaVodka]

​@@mattbarker1411i'm sure you can prove that

[@AJ-nd4nk]

​@@mattbarker1411 So did Mike Tyson, Holyfield etc. Doesn't take away their greatness.

[@EustahijeMihajlović]

​@@mattbarker1411 he was also a one trick dog. Theres no way from defending against that move except being heavy enough. Plus he got thrown like a bag of potatoes with that arm around neck throw.

[@o.b.9087]

​@@mattbarker1411how can you know that? Please provide some proof, even minimal. He was a freak of nature, a human beast. Genetically gifted obviously but trained harder than most sportsmen I've ever known. If you look at thr olympics of 1996,2000. His physic looks normal for a big powerful person. Nothing seems juiced. People like to spread BS it's unbelievable.

[@JamaBear]

"THIS" is what it means to be the G.O.A.T. A title that is given way to easy and often nowadays. Great Video.

[@NevTheDeranged]

I don't even care about sports in general, or wrestling in particular, but this was pretty fascinating, I gotta admit. This dude is a real one.

[@BBBYpsi]

What is getting left out is Karelin had a very physical match a little earlier while Rulon had zero matches that day. Rulon was also warned 5 or 6 times about not engaging in combat & they usually penalized a point after the first warning. That did not happen & that stupid rule change that was only for this Olympics.

[@Garbrel80]

I've never seen an athlete make a sport look so effortless. Karelin didn't beat his opponents, he annihilated their will to live, while looking _bored_ doing it. You look in the eyes of Karelin, or his countrymate Fedor Emilianenko, and there is no fear to be found. 👁👁

[@Old_Grandfather_]

😁

[@risingsun9064]

His devotion to the sport is admirable

[@craigallmendinger8404]

Those opening highlights are incredibly impressive. I find it nearly impossible to pick someone up that doesn’t want to be picked up. Never mind doing it to an Olympic trained athlete as your opponent.

[@normalnick9693]

it would be impossible if they could grab your legs. very odd style of wrestling

[@alexandrkv]

@@normalnick9693 its called greco-roman

[@mikearndt1233]

Just crazy strength.i wonder how many of victims of his suplexes suffered spinal damage?scary

[@ize7821]

What makes it even crazier is the fact that he competed in the super heavyweight category. Lifting an resisting man that weighs over 130kg with ease is a ridiculous feat to pull off in every match.

[@40below1000]

@@alexandrkv was wondering about that. boxer here

[@CelticGladiator7]

My favorite sportsman ever, though I'm judoka. Probably the most dominant man in all discplines. There's never too much to see about his history's paths. I feel priviledged to be able to witness his career in my life. And I remember the shock to the world after his "loss"; loads of media not sport related were covering this event. Still, he did not loose. He gave away this point. Subtile, but a huge difference.

[@TommyBahamy]

Damn, so much respect for Karelin. All the comments about how his greatness and humility transcends wrestling are on point. I really want to see his lumbar MRI..

[@фонУнгерн]

Оно не помещается на 19 дюймовый монитор!!))))

[@konkluzio]

a real GOAT. once in an interview he got the question: who was your biggest opponent? his answer: the frigerator i lifting up in 10 store building every day as a training! amazing human being, God bless You Aleksander!

[@gregparrott]

I remember seeing his loss to Gardner. It seemed like a cheap shot. Gardner only won because of a new, and illogical rule change

[@Blitzey2]

and then the rule was removed after the games

[@gregparrott]

@@Blitzey2 Yes, they realize how stupid the rule was and that Gardner was unfairly gifted a win. Hopefully Karelin recognized that.

[@bobbyjoeyoung2becausesteph194]

quit lying because he wasnt even close to winning and at no time did the rule play apart just in a struggle and over time he lose strength allowing for him to lose grip but even if he doesnt lose grip hes never even close to winning match so quit lying you sore loser all sad cause rulon won

[@eugenegreen2285]

you can't teach what Rulon Gardner can do, Karelin was no match for a prime Gardner.

[@gregparrott]

@@eugenegreen2285 I'm no expert on wrestling, and I don't mean to disparage Gardner. But I watched it back when the match occurred. Despite Gardner being in his prime and Karelin past his, Karelin's strength and experience still looked the better of the two. Gardner only won based on a strange rule change. I say strange because in a sport that is so dynamic, forcing an opponent to keep their hands clasped is a very artificial requirement. The Olympic committee considered it strange enough that the rule was reversed after this event. That tells me Karelin definitely WAS a match for Gardner. Had that weird rule not been imposed, Karelin may well have won.

[@SnakesGaming2016]

one of the greatest athletes of all time.

[@AlexDroog71]

I remember a friend of mine telling me the UFC wanted Karelin to fight but they were afraid he may kill someone. This was in about 94 or 95.

[@peter-peter5929]

Alexander Karelin's accomplishments and ferocity will never be matched. Although a nice man outside of the ring, in competition, he had ice in his veins. Old school.

[@TheWolvesCurse]

Aleksandr also entered a strongman competition in finland in the early 90s, where also some world champion athletes participated. same as with his pancrase/MMA bout in japan, he did not specifically train for the event or that sport before entering, yet still scored a somewhat respectable 8th place out of 10. doesn't sound much, but if you know a bit about strongman sport, you'll find this also highly impressive. i think there is a grainy 240p video of the entire competition somewhere on youtube.

[@shuyangleung3943]

This guy makes heavyweight olympians feel like they're a kid again wrestling their dad.

[@mesajongte]

Mr. Karelin, you let no one down. You are the Champ!

[@ВадимЧупров-м5м]

Ты не понимаешь его менталитет, в его виденье он не себя подвёл, а страну в которой он родился, он ставит людей превыше себя, поэтому он и такой Великий!

[@DIRTkat_ofc]

Actually he let a lot of people down, on their sides, backs, necks, heads, it was like his main thing, did you watch the video?

[@mesajongte]

@@DIRTkat_ofc omg! Why didn't you comment sooner? 🤣🤣🤣 I'm laughing my ass off! 😅

[@JonnyMack33]

Knowing he's got that injury and watching him wrestle is making me feel weird.. god that must've been painful. He's from another planet man, fkn unreal.

[@jaymac7203]

Lifting 280lb from the floor and throwing it around like that is just incredible 😮 It's an uncommon strength.

[@t16205]

280 proffessionally trained, resisting lbs

[@TheGodfather101]

not to mention if that 280 is trying to shift its center mass mid lift. oof

[@Cooltraxx77]

dude was clearly on steroids btw

[@Jerry-yr1en]

@@Cooltraxx77 don’t compare him to Brock Lesnar boyo

[@Jerry-yr1en]

@JeepersCreepers-nq4qk Karelin will beat ufc fighters

[@kcoop9999]

I first heard of Karelin during the Olympics in 2000. His training regime alone would have eliminated most competitors before they even got started! It was said he would finish his training day by running in deep snow until he collapsed, rest just long enough to get back on his feet, and then run back home!!

[@Li-rx5dn]

Karelin is a very intelligent, educated man with a wonderful sense of humor

[@bobby4500]

Greatest wrestler of all time. No one will be close.

[@particularindividual4552]

"I still haven't learned how to comment on this" What an incredibly self aware and impactful statement.

[@jodyswallow1008]

My back started hurting just watching those slams. One scary dude.

[@NGCPD]

Every program on him adds more to his legacy... Always something new, including this one. Thank you, subscribed.

[@tylerkeller8869]

Remaining undefeated in a one - on one professional for that long is next to impossible. He's a legend.

[@chelseapoet3664]

What a legend. One of the greatest sportsmen of all time.

[@sylvaintremblay1952]

Very impressive, not only he had strength, agility and master the science of wrestling, but he had a tremendous will to win. I was very impress that he managed to win a tournament with a broken rib and kick ass this MMA guy with only throws. A real Champion, a man of character

[@atulagrawal82]

Mind blowing this is..can’t believe one person dominated for so long..must be a hero and role model for many sportsmen

[@FinnoUgric]

An absolute gentleman in sport and in his life as well. Truly an inspiration for anyone with a common sense. Greetings from Hungary🇭🇺🍻🇷🇺

[@maikkamman8307]

deserves a like, well made, all respect to mr Karelin, what a legend

[@zemokralj9013]

It's not about what he did But about how he did it that stands out the most Fair sportsmanship, an unbreakable hunger for the win, never taking the easy way Reaching the top and then having the mental fortitude to strive for more Not sparing for a long time and winning gold without your signature weapon The more you think about him, the less he seems human while also being the most human there is

[@Its_LumberJack]

As an American wrestler, I can tell you that 90% of us disregarded that "loss" to rulon. Karelin was everything a wrestler should strive to be with the tenacity that embodies the sport as a whole. Even in the US, Karelin is a bigger name in wrestling that Rulon Gardiner will ever be.

[@hpulker]

That Gardener guy is nobody and everyone knows that

[@humanbeing5918]

the best video on the internet. true inspiration and unreal phenomenon of a man. thank you so much for creating this.

[@f1r3hunt3rz5]

Without a doubt, the most dominant athlete of all time in modern human sports history.

[@ex0ja]

Nah Don Bradman is

[@Jerry-yr1en]

@@ex0ja in combat sports it’s this guy

[@H.K.5]

@@Jerry-yr1en True but the original comment didn’t specify that. Don Bradman shouldn’t even be in the conversation anyway, he played in a team sport.

[@harrypereira5912]

Mijain Lopez Nuñez; de Cuba🥇🥇🥇🥇🇨🇺!

[@Elrog3]

@@Jerry-yr1en Bob Munden?

[@the_beer_hunter6606]

In my opinion one of the greatest, if not the greatest athlete of all time. What a man.....

[@soldadodecristo2480]

Alex is, was & ALWAYS will be The GOAT!

[@kevinearle8955]

He is a Hero to his countrymen. Such a humble and respectable man. This is what a sport icon ought to be...

[@ShinyPigrat]

High key hes my hero and im american lmao

[@joepaddy7239]

@@ShinyPigrathow ironic since he’s Russian 😂

[@andreasriestola9403]

Remember during the 2004 EC in wrestling me and my friend were standing in the crowd when my friend all of sudden got lifted up in the air then put to side. It was Karelin who just wanted to get passed the crowd. My friend who weighed around 180 pounds described feeling to huge hands effortlessly moving him like a cardboard figure.

[@dimatrue]

Thank you very much for this story. Karelin is a true hero. Miraculous achievements coupled with modesty and respect for other people.

[@noata9140]

Alexander is a child of the USSR. I was born there too. Looking at him, I see many, many, without exaggeration, the same dedicated engineers, scientists, teachers, builders, doctors. In this we were all so similar. The common feature is the red thread. Give yourself completely without reserve. Reach your maximum and surpass yourself even more. Alexander had a synergy of incredible body and Soviet spirit. Without this spirit there would be nothing.

[@muslimcel4581]

RIP soviet union😢

[@noata9140]

​@@muslimcel4581yes, bro

[@tarantaran5322]

What type of life u live in Soviet union?

[@noata9140]

@@tarantaran5322 Personally, my family and I were happy. There is a memory of purity, modest women in beautiful cotton dresses and honesty in people, justice. Everyone was provided with housing and good medicine for that time. Almost everyone was doing sports. My grandfather from the farthest village was able to get a good education, both secondary and higher, and was a construction engineer. It was all free. There wasn't much choice of food, but it was very, very cheap and of high quality. This is much better than a thousand types of chemical products now. My biology teacher at the university recalled the Soviet era and cried with resentment that we could not save it. It is unlikely that she would have cried if life had been as terrible as it was written in the media. Sometimes it makes me sad too, but what's done is done. The USSR was not hell, that's for sure. (I use translate, sorry)

[@markp44288]

What a beast! I am not even into sports but I found this fascinating and he is just amazing to watch. There is no greater show of skill than to make something look easy, and he makes just about everything he does look incredible easy- nice fluid, controlled moves. Wow.

[@skymaster9665]

What a champion and the fact that he is so humble and soft spoken. Truly a specimen.

[@AnodyneHipsterInfluencer]

Olympic committees have time and time again proved themselves to be shameful in their woeful and meddling decision making over the years. To have by_far_ the greatest Greco-Roman wrestler the world has ever seen showing up for an attempt to win what would have been a record _four_ gold medals in the sport, while also knowing it was going to be his last appearance before retiring and they chose under _those_ circumstances to apply a rules change to make something that is so absolutely inconsequential into something that could win or lose a match, something that they knew the wrestlers - especially Karelin - would be adversely impacted by in a direct manner as well as obviously not used to thinking about in a match and something that they obviously knew was so foolish and nonsensical because they literally _removed_ that rules change for the next Olympiad is absolutely _SHAMEFUL._ I'd say they owe the great champion an apology but it'd be an insult since the change was so misguided, unnecessary and inappropriate. I suppose you could say that _perhaps,_ because "anything can happen," who's to say Karelin wouldn't have lost the match without that new rule having been randomly implemented for that one Olympiad. Fine, but the fact that it _was_ implemented and it _did_ end up being the deciding factor in the match casts such an ugly and frustrating pall over it. A stain that cannot be removed like so many others scattered throughout Olympic history. A total, f*cking, bummer.

[@denisfolcik1373]

FIFA and the Olympic Committe are by far the most corrupt sports groups out there and probably up for for most corrupt of any group.

[@102ndsmirnov7]

yep, well put

[@glennkurtzrock]

The rules applied equally to everyone, Karelin could just as easily have beaten Rulon with that same rule if he hadn't let go first. He was aware of the rule change and chose to compete. He hasn't made any excuses for his loss, why are you?

[@102ndsmirnov7]

he hasn't made excuses because he's humble. It was an obviously dumb rule which is harder to adapt to for someone who has been perfecting his techniques for decades.@@glennkurtzrock

[@Grejegando]

The only comment that deserves a like.

[@Toxofox]

Wrestling with broken ribs? I've seen grown men cry because of broken ribs, and this dude just goes in and lifts people?!

[@KenishiroMashiba]

This guy was the greatest athlete of the 20th century, period.

[@2genders-tk2ue]

Idk man...cant really label anyone that...there were so many great altheles in different sports....

[@n.b.p.davenport7066]

You learn that from watching this video😮

[@urdad9853]

He was shooting monkey testosterone in his neck veins, exclaimation mark!

[@kevinbissinger]

Wrestling is not a good example of overall athleticism.

[@sui6160]

@@kevinbissingeryou’re right, it’s not good but great, it might be the best