Fictional Character Biography
Ivan Drago is an Olympic gold medalist and an amateur boxing champion from the Soviet Union, who had an amateur record of 100-0-0 Wins (100 KO). He is billed at 6 ft 5½ in (197 cm) and 261 pounds (118 kg, over 18 ½ stone). He wields a punch with which has been measured between 1850-2150psi, whereas the average psi for a boxer is 700psi. He is also a Captain in the Red Army and as seen on his chest, is a recipient of the Hero of the Soviet Union award. Drago is carefully fitted and trained to be the consummate fighter. His heart rate and punching power are constantly measured via computers during his workouts. Drago is seen receiving injections in the movie, presumably anabolic steroids, though this is never explicitly stated.
Drago is married to another athlete, Ludmilla Drago (Brigitte Nielsen) who is mentioned to be a gold medalist in swimming. She is much more articulate than Drago, who seldom talks, and always speaks on his behalf at press conferences and interviews. Her status as an elite athlete is questionable given that she is seen smoking during the fight with Apollo Creed. She dismisses accusations of steroid use, explaining her husband's freakish size and strength by saying, "he is like your Popeye. He eats his spinach everyday!"
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