Meet the man dubbed ‘Mouth of Steel’ – who has jaws so strong he can pull a BUS with his TEETH.
Circus performer Igor Zaripov, 30, holds three world records with his gnashers, including the heaviest road vehicle pulled by the teeth, a 12,360kg double-decker.
He also holds the records for the fastest time to pull a car over level 100ft with teeth, in 15.7 seconds.
His third record is for suspending himself by the teeth, for two minutes and 32 seconds.
Russian-born Igor, who now lives in Las Vegas, speaks only his mother tongue, because he reckons it makes his jaws more powerful.
He said: “When I do my stunts, I only speak Russian.
“I think it makes me stronger. I feel powerful, like I can take on the world.”
Igor, who works for Cirque Du Soleil, is from a long line of circus performers, who can trace their performing roots back to 1893, when his great-great grandparents mesmerised the last Tsar with death-defying acrobatics.
He has even developed his own fitness program, Czar Fitness, to help others boost their bodies and minds using his unique brand of coaching.
Igor, who has also pulled a truck with his teeth, added: “We’re all here together, trying to do the same thing – trying to stay positive, trying to eat healthy, and trying to get the exercise in.
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“It’s not always easy but a wise person has said that ‘nothing that is important is ever easy’.
“I’m here for you because I feel this is one of my many purposes – to help others through what I have learnt and what I am continuing to learn daily.”
