Ivan Firtsak - the strongest person to the first half of the XX century

Ivan Firtsak - the Ukrainian nugget about which Europeans made legends. In the people he was called Ivan Sila, and the whole world remembered its circus nickname - Crotone.

About the Transcarpathian athlete spoke since the childhood. Will hear that the young man himself harnessed himself in a plow, will see how on shoulders carries a calf. Parents understood that at yourself you shouldn't hold the son and decided to send Ivan to the Czech Republic.


At first was to it not with pleasure and there weren't enough stars from the sky it. Ivan Firtsak worked at the plant, the loader at the station, didn't hear yet praise of the wandering athlete who assured that he will win against everyone. "Why not to try?", - the Ukrainian Thought. He tried and won a victory after which trainers noticed his talent. In 23 years Ivan Firtsak became the champion in weightlifting, won against 70 times kettlebell sport competitions. But the sport didn't bring big earnings, and the Ukrainian athlete decided to try the force in circus. A palm Ivan beat an oak board 20-centimeter nails, and then teeth pulled out them. Curved heart from metal fittings and many other interesting tricks. Came to look at this show also the president of Czechoslovakia, and also the queen of Great Britain. She wanted to see the Ukrainian athlete on a ring with the world champion in a super heavyweight John Jackson. But the idea was unsuccessful as Ivan didn't calculate the forces and broke to the boxer a thorax. The blow was such powerful that the boxing glove burst. After a duel Jackson didn't sustain and jumped out of a window of the multi-storey building. After this case Ivan Firtsak was attacked by John Jackson's supporters who injured the athlete's head therefore to it diagnosed an open fracture of a skull. Doctors were forced to implant a gold plate into the injured skull bone. Two months the athlete went with the bandaged head, and further acted in a wig. As compensation and Ivan Firtsak's recognition the queen of England presented it a champion belt, cuffs and the helmet decorated with diamonds and the relief image of lions.

With "Gertsfert-circus" Ivan Firtsak visited the half-world, having captivated the skill Hungary, Bulgaria, Greece, Romania, France, Denmark, the Netherlands, Poland, Canada, the USA and many other countries. Generally acted in 64 countries of the world and скизь its performances accepted with an applause.

Triumphal historical the performance took place in the USA where Ivan of Sil struck Americans with the trick when laid down on the earth, and the car moved a wheel through his throat. This performance stunned audience, and the management of the plant Ford for commission of this improbable trick presented the Ukrainian personalized car. By the way, when Ivan Firtsak returned home, the local administration wanted to confiscate the car, but Ivan took a sledge hammer and broke the American gift. He was punished for such act: he was put in prison and beaten.

Ivan Firtsak of 70 times won kettlebell sport competitions, became the winner of a beauty contest of a body in Paris. On its phenomenal force, tricks and unique records the world community called Firtsak by the name of the antique hero of Crotone. In 1928 it was recognized as the strongest person of the planet. Nobody can still repeat some power tricks of Ivan Firtsaka-Crotone.

Ivan Firtsak broke off the 10-year contract with circus of earlier stipulated term and through court paid to the owner big compensation - 100 thousand. Kroner. Returned to the native village in the late thirties where it was waited by a big family - Ivan was a father of 8 children. On bitkivshchin, after establishment of the Soviet power, People's Commissariat for Internal Affairs confiscated all its awards, distinctions and even photos from legendary Crotone. In default of a phenomenon of Ivan Sila the destiny of his son played a significant role Soviet period: 18-year-old Ivan Firtsak Jr. in post-war years was condemned on a trumped-up case in belonging to OUN for 25 years of camps from which he nearly 8 stayed. It was great hope for the father, always acted with it in couple and was a champion of the USSR in boxing in the first post-war years.

It was necessary to earn a living of a big family besides by performances. Ivan of Sil Ezdil on villages, blew the horn and called in local club of everyone. An entrance fee - 20 kopeks. Though was not to young people, but also bent fittings further, pulled cars and lifted at the same time several people. Subsequently Ivan Firtsak founded Transcarpathian circus school and school of power arts. His many pupils received champion titles in weightlifting.

The gold plate which demanded replacement became implanted to one of causes of death of Ivan Firtsak. At the time of the Soviet Union there was no opportunity to go abroad for its planned replacement therefore the wound under a plate began to rot. The doctor who regularly came to the athlete with Irshava couldn't make anything. Ivan Firtsak in the native village of the Squirrel died on November 10, 1970. A funeral of the athlete was populous - to say goodbye to Crotone there arrived many athletes.