Busting a hot-water bottle and hammering nails with bare hands: Some of the strongest people of the country at the stand of Bashkortostan

Elbrus Nigmatulin and Igor Popov, one of the strongest men in Russia, demonstrated the incredible capabilities of the human body to the guests of the RUSSIA EXPO.

To begin with, Igor Popov, the record holder of the Russian Book of Records, volunteered to tear open a thick telephone directory. The guests were also offered to try it — several boys dared to do it, but failed. But Popov tore the book into several pieces in no time, which the young guests then took away as an unusual souvenir.

Photo: Alyona Yambayeva

Then the spectators were given nails to try to bend them. And once again the visitors were unable to do so. But the strongmen bent metal with such ease, as if the nails were made of plastic. Igor Popov thought it was not enough just to bend a nail, and he twisted several nails into a neat bow.

Igor Popov became a record-breaker by holding a refrigerator and a stove on his head. He demonstrated his skill at the exposition as well. There were no household appliances, so we had to make do with what was at hand: a stool and a fence post.

Photo: Alyona Yambayeva

And at the end of a small but bright performance Elbrus Nigmatulin himself showed that a rigid rubber hot-water bottle can be inflated as easily as an ordinary balloon. A few powerful inhalations and exhalations, and the heating pad burst.

"I tried the same thing recently — it didn't work. But today I succeeded thanks to your support. It's all you. Thank you!" —Elbrus Nigmatulin modestly thanked the audience.

After the show, the famous strongmen were photographed with everyone, signed autographs and even recorded video greetings.

It should be reminded that Elbrus Nigmatullin, the owner of the title The Strongest Man in Russia, in 2020 managed to drag a plane weighing 36 tons to a distance of 25 meters. The achievement was recorded in the Russian Book of Records. Now the athlete devotes most of his time to coaching and socio-political activities.