STANISLAUS ZBYSZKO

Evening Post, Volume CXVII, Issue 18, 21 July 1934, Page 23

STANISLAUS ZBYSZKO

AN ATHLETIC WONDER

~ Although Strangler Lewis, who has held and lost the world's heavyweight wrestling championship a number of times during the past sixteen years, showed, his skill in. subduing Joe Stecher on -December 13, 1920, he in turn found a master in the : elder Zbyszko (writes A. D. Phillips in "The Ring"). Stanislaus Zbyszko, like Lewis, held the title more than once, and during the heyday of his wrestling career was known as the "Eighth wonder" of the athletic world. Long past ,the age when the average athlete in any other branch of competition would have sought retirement,' the massive Pole not only won. the world's championship, but for years after that continued to mow down opponents until, past the half-century mark, he decided to retire only recently. :

Each of the wrestling stars has had a" hobby, and also a style and a method of his own for training. Gotch would train on an opponent's toe to.perfect the toe hold; vStrangler Lewis would train on a wooden head to perfect the head lock; Stanislaus Zbyszko trained on an accordion, practising grips and holds on this wind instrument to learn how to squeeze the wind out of an opponent. ■-.-■■ After winning 945 matches in a row, Zbysz;ko finally received his chance to beat Gotch. Gotch realised that i only a stratagem could defeat the Pole, and accordingly, when the bell rang, instead of waiting for the handshake that was customary, but not compulsory, he drove straight at his' opponent's- knees, knocked him over, and pinned his shoulders in the record time of six seconds. Zbyszko's confidence was badly shaken by this upset, and, after half an hour's wrestling, in which he was always on the defensive, he had to concede the winning fall. He never received a return bout with Gotch.