Vladimir Turchinsky(1963-2009)

Vladimir Turchinskiy is a Soviet and Russian athlete, record holder in strength sports, TV and radio presenter, actor. At the age of five he was sent to a sports school, because everyone in the family was passionate about sports. He began to play sports seriously and became a silver medalist at the Moscow Greco-Roman wrestling championship. In the eighth grade, he joined the Moscow sambo team. At the age of 16, he fulfilled the standard for master of sports. Until the third year, he studied at the Moscow Institute of Civil Aviation Engineers as a programmer. Vladimir joined the army of his own free will. He served in the Signal Corps. Having retired to the reserve, he moved to the State Central Institute of Physical Culture, where he received a diploma as a trainer-teacher.

In the mid-1990s, Turchinskiy participated in the TV show American Gladiators (1989), where he was known as 'Gladiator Dynamite'. Twice took part in the world championship among the strongest athletes on the planet - World's Strongest Man (1977). He was recognized as the strongest athlete in Russia in 1998 according to the Interstrong professional league.

Vladimir Turchinsky hosted a number of television programs and starred in many Russian films and TV series.