CHATS WITH CHAMPIONS

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1685, 15 June 1904, Page 51

CHATS WITH CHAMPIONS

GEORG hack enschmidt, the = wok-lips best graeco-roman WRESTLER.

(From the "Hour Glass.”)

Only as recently as January 30th did Georg Hackensehmidt, "the Russian Lion,” earn, or rather reiterate lus title to the honour of being the worlds best Graeco-Roman wrestler. In the greatest money match of all time, namely, ,£2OOO he vanquished Ahmed Madrali, the Sultanas favourite wrestler, and, tor some considerable time at .least, must rest on his laurels as the finest exponent of the classical style of wrestling in tin* generation at least. Never before did . a more perfectly proportioned man than Hackensehmidt strip for a wrestling contest. He is beautifully built, and a mould of massive muscles. England is his second home, and during his stay here he has become considerably Anglicised. Still hi? knowledge of the rather slowly acquired language of this countrv is considerably restricted, and even the Russian himself smiles when lie is told of the gushing , articles and interviews supposedly written and attributed to him. Perhaps it will be as well to allow the genial Russ to speak for himself, making allowances, of course, tor his limited knowledge of English. Rut ■when he is thinking and speaking one can see working a very active and intelligent mind. INTENDED 1 TOR THE PRIESTHOOD.

"My family,” he said, , "is of German extraction, though settled in Russia. My mother was a Swede, and neither of my parents was notable for strength. Still, my brother is very strong—very little behind me—and my sister, who has gone through her studies at the institute, is powerfully built. My relatives are in the Czar's army, and an uncle commands cue of his Majesty's battleships. The priesthood was meant for me—ah! what you call muscular Christianity, eh?—but j took to technical engineering. Engineers are badly wanted in Russia, still

T threw it up. Gymnasts took my fancy, and then I came under the notice of a St. Petersburg doctor, passionately fond of physical culture. He said to me, 'You can become the strongest and finest man in the world’; and then I went in for culturing my strength." There is no doubt Hackenschmidt is the strongest wrestler to-day, and what he can accomplish with weights is not yet fully known. He can lift three hundredweight playfully above his head, and can lie on his back and juggle Avith 2001 b bar-bells as though they were toys. But wrestling pays him better than tearing himself to pieces in giving a "strong man” show. ABOUT' HIMSELF.

TTour age, .Mr Hackenschmidt r” I asked.

“I am a year younger than Madrali — twenty-six—but, as you English people say*, 1 have seen a deal of the Avorld. I have wrestled before the Czar, the Emperor of Austria, and the Sultan. At Constantinople I had the greatest match of mj- life—one of six hours with Hadi Ali, a big Turk, 7-k stones heavier than I. "My presents, eh? Yes, the Czar gave mo a silver cup and medal, the Emperor of Austria a sih'er tobacco-box and vase, and the Paris Exhibition people a gold medal. I have Avon stake Avagers of all amounts in England, and contests galore in Paris,-Berlin, Amsterdam, etc.” "IF I HAD LOST ” “Shall you settle doAvn if? England?”. "No; home has too many charms. Home is au to me. Jf I had lost that match with Madrali I dare'not have showed my face among my people. "Hoav I train ? No, I’ll not toll you that, beyond stating that X lift some weights and jump or 3Avim Avlien I can. My leg muscles must be kept supple, and 1 love jumping, but I do not think I should break records at it.”

"It is said you are a one-style Avrestler.” "Yes. The shoAvmen up and down the country who challenge me and never come to* terms, say that of me. T’h« GraeeoIloma.l style is my style. It is the oldest, prettiest, and, to my thinking, the best. I haA 7 e made myself perfect in it, and is i; likely I should go in for others ? I do* not think much cf your Lane as Lire style —it is too dangerous.” This dictum is the outcome of Hackensclupidt’s experience of the Lancashire or catch-as-catch-can style. He has acted as referee in a small match in the Palatinate, but, Aviiile deriving much pleasure and amusement from the style, is firmly ccirvinced it is “no good.”

AHMED MADRALI, THE .SULTAN’S WRESTLER.

Madrali, Ahmed Madrali, the Sultan’s Avrestler—not Madralli, as most London journals have It—believes in creating an. impression. And certainly 7, Avlien one tumbles up against a man sixteen stones in weight, 6ft lin tall, Avith a -18iir cheat, an lßjin neck, ijiceps oi smaller'size, and an 18-jin calf, it is not surprising that he leaA r es an impression behind. When Madrali moA r es about, as he did not so long ago, from London to Manchester, his august arrival ac the Lancashire capital was heralded by a commonplace telegram, but it had its effect. Dressed in all his gayest Turkish hues, Madrali cut'an imposing figure, and the excitement could not have been greater if the Sultan himself had arrived. Even the Turkish colon y of Manchester, a considerable one, by the Avay, turned out bo greet him, and at the Cirque, ivliere he ivrestled, Avatched his every cunning movement, and cheered him upon his success over the French-Canadian. Dubois. HIS DEFEAT, AND AFTER,

Everybody remembers the sensationalbout between Hackensehmidt and Madrali at Olympia recently. They gripped, hut in forty-four seconds the Turk, caught in a moment of mental aberration, was bustled to the ground by the mighty Russian. Thirty odd stone of muscle and bone fell upon MadraM's outstretched arm, and was it any wonder that it smashed under the awful pressure pf the Russian, who, even when he had Madrali down, forced all his strength into his prostrate foeman. "I shall die in the ring/' said Madrali, before the event, "if I lose.” Bur he still lives to wrestle another day, for no one coukl expect him to combat Hackensehmidt under the least physical disadvantage. Madrali is too good a sportsman to say so himself, but his best friends aver that he'should never have taken Hackensehmidt oil in a style in which his opponent knew all the tricks. In that one unguarded moment the Russ saw his chance, and a powerful botly working in unison with a quick brain meant Madrali's overthrow.

Anyhow, Madrali's bi-oxen arm is better, and he still- has friends willing to support him for <£10(10 in another match with Hackensehmidt at the Turk's own style—catck-as-catck-can. As Hackenschmidt had his own style once,' - it is only fair to him to return the compliment. But will he ? I hardly think so. At any rate, Londoners will have the opportunity of once more witnessing Madrali in the ring. He has brought to London a celebrated Turkish wrestler of enormous size, and is at present appearing with him at the Alhambra. Then, as the French sportsmen say, "he will go out-for blood” which, interpreted, means he will be casting round for serious matches. SEEKING IDEAS. Ahmed Madrali lives a quiet, well-re-gulated. life, wrestling daily with Pierri or anvone else who can stand up against him and afford him the opportunity of developing ideas. "All I want,” he said to me, "is to get ideas at any style. At catch-as-catch-can, the style used in Turkey, no man has stood up long against me. Your English wrestlers I can soon 'down. Just a twist of the arm, my arm round their necks, and down they go.” HIS SKILL AND STRENGTH.

"Your chief tricks—what are they P” I asked.

"Tricks,” he replied, “is hardly the word to use/' adding this witn a tug at his moustache. "It is skill, my friend, j am. strong on what you call the leg-

hold and the. Come here, I’ll try one on you.” We laughed the idea away, and Madrali further said, "Well, here is one 'trick* you can practise on your brother at home. I force my man down on all fours. £ force back one of his arms, and pin it tightly betAveen his shoulders with ‘ one hand. Then I slip my other arm under his and behind his neck. A push and a wriggle, and he is on his hack.” "Very pleasant, no doubt,” I remarked, and the . Terror of Turkey smiled, "Can you give me ideas of* your other skilful moves?”

“No, I think I Avill leave them to my opponents to find ont. I do not knoAV the Graeco-Roman style so well as I should do, but I am picking it up. I have a fine tutor in* Pierri. and when I beat Tom Cannon I picked up some ‘wrinkles/ as I think you call them.” Further talk Avith Msudrali convinced mo that strength is well mixed: up with his skill. T!he way he pounded, into Dubois, a much bigger man, at Manchester, and twice toppled him over inside eighteen minutes, would go to proA'e this, for Dubois was 121 b heavier, ■hux taller, 2m bigger round the chest, and 2in greater round the neck. While taller and heavier than Hackenschmidt, Madrali, hoAveA r er, is not so well developed in tha shoulders and legs. THE SULTAN’S OWN.

Madrali is proud of his position of Court Avrestler to the Sultan. He had to obtain six months’ leave to visit England, and doubtless the success which Ali Hassan reaped—he was Madrali’s forerunner —prompted him to come to these sporting shores. He is only twenty-seven years of age, and is willing at any time to meet anyone in the catch-ae-eatch-can style for <kl€oo. Madrali smiled when I told him there‘were three claimants for the honour of champion at that style, but he tapped his swelling chest in significant manner at the innuendo. Next winter, should he be able to obtain leave, he Avill vist India. Since his stay in England he has met and beaten all sorts and conditions of wrestlers,, for-wrestling is his business, pure and simple. .He claims that nature made him follow the occupation, for his ancestors have all been experts at the game. He is in the best of hands—those, of Antonio Pierri,. himself the terror of the Continent at the' GraecoRoman stylo, and called the “Terrible Greek.” Doubtless he conferred a similar title upon his Turkish portege as soon as he arrived. Anyhow it is something to remember to shake hands with Pierri. It’s grand but it’s "terrible, and, as the Scot, would say, it’s an awfii* risk.