10 Things You Didn't Know About Nikolai Volkoff

9. Weightlifting Was His Ticket To North America

Nikolai had two choices if he wanted the magical passport that would whisk him away from Yugoslavia and into North America. Firstly, he could join the army and complete his training. Otherwise, he'd have to become a champion athlete, impress the hell out of everyone and earn his freedom.

He chose the second route.

Joining the Yugoslavian weightlifting team, Volkoff worked his way up the ladder (working out for "six hours a day") and eventually took pride of place as a champion. That journey earned him a passport and took him to Vienna in Austria, a trip only possible because of his hard work and standing as a national athlete.

In the same Right Wing News interview referenced before, Nikolai said he approached the Canadian embassy, telling them he was a champion and had graduated from school, and was allowed to stay in the country. That's when he met Stu Hart and started training to wrestle.