As a child, Fyodor did not stand out among his peers and lived in a village with his grandparents. But at the age of 8, he began to grow rapidly.
By the age of 14, he was over 2.5 meters tall.
When he turned 16, a German circus agent noticed him. Seeing potential in the gigantic teenager, the agent offered Fyodor a contract to work in a German circus.
In exchange, the circus provided him with food, clothing, and a salary. However, life in the circus didn’t bring Fyodor the happiness he had hoped for, and in 1903 he returned home.
Back home, Fyodor bought land and a house. The estate was rebuilt and furnished to fit his size. He was a kind-hearted man who dreamed of having a family.
However, finding a wife was not easy — women were frightened by his enormous stature. Eventually, he married Yefrosinya Lebedeva, a schoolteacher who was also tall — 180 cm.
Together they had five children, who, despite their heritage, never grew taller than 2 meters.
One fascinating detail of his life was his diet. Every day, Fyodor consumed an enormous amount of food.
His daily intake included 8 loaves of bread, 20 eggs, 2 liters of tea and beer, and massive portions of meat and fruit. Before bed, he would also eat a full loaf of bread, 15 eggs, and drink a liter of milk or tea.
Despite his physical strength, Fyodor lived a short life. On September 10, 1912, he died of a lung illness at the age of 34.
