Sam's obituary writer claimed he participated in the 1912 Olympics for Russia[3] and served as a pilot in the Imperial Russian Air Force in World War I.

His tour took him to Australia in 1925, and found the local wrestling scene so receptive that he decided to return permanently.

[citation needed] The press described him as "a low-set, bull-necked, heavily torsoed fellow",[6] and he was well-known and popular with audiences for his "vigorous methods"[7][failed verification] In addition to his professional wrestling career, Burmister was also a vaudeville performer and sideshow strongman, under the stage name "The Modern Samson".

[8] Anecdotally, one of the highlights of his routine included driving nails into a pine board with his fists [3] and allowing a motor car to be driven across his chest.

[9] He also had a small cameo role in the 1925 Australian film "Those Terrible Twins"[8] Burmister switched from competitor to trainer in the late 1940s, training Australian rugby league and rugby union star Bob McMaster when the latter made his foray into professional wrestling.