Georg Hackenschmidt - Post-wrestling

Post-wrestling

Following his second defeat at the hands of Gotch, upon returning to England Hackenschmidt was preparing for a match with Stanislaus Zbyszko to take place the following June, but when he began working out he felt such pain in his right knee that it was painful even to walk. It necessitated surgery, but Hackenschmidt decided at that point to retire and pursue his other interests in philosophy, physical culture and gardening.

Hackenschmidt was a pioneer in the field of weightlifting. He invented the exercise known as the hack squat, whose name is a reference to his own. Hackenschmidt also helped to popularize many other types of lifts common within the modern training regimen, such as the bench press. During his career, he held numerous weightlifting records, all of which have since been broken.

He was a tremendously educated and cultured man who spoke seven languages. He went on to write several books, including Complete Science of Wrestling (1909), Fitness and Your Self (1937), Consciousness and Character: True Definitions of Entity, Individuality, Personality, Nonentity (1937), The Way To Live In Health and Physical Fitness (1941), and The Three Memories and Forgetfulness: What They Are and What Their True Significance is in Human Life. He also taught physical education to members of the House of Lords and served as a judge at the 1948 Mr. Universe show in London won by John Grimek.

Throughout his life Hackenschmidt paid strict attention to his diet. While a meat-eater earlier in life, he later consumed huge quantities of fruit, nuts and raw vegetables, as well as drinking 11 pints of milk a day. He also remained physically fit. At 56 he could jump over a 4-foot, 6-inche high board 10 times. Even through his mid-80's he would jump 50 times over a chair once a week, bench press 150 pounds and run seven miles in 45 minutes.

Hackenschmidt was already hospitalized at St. Francis Hospital in Dulwich, a suburb of London, when he died on February 19, 1968. He was 90 years old. He was cremated at West Norwood Cemetery, where his memorial plaque records him as George Hackenschmidt.