Hrygory Bondaruk – the First Winner of Zloty Tur

“I have no idea when these 10 years passed, but they did passed” – said the Ukrainian competitor, the winner of the main cup at first Zloty Cup Tur tournament, Hrygory Bondaruk in the telephone conversation.

“I remember as in autumn 1999 Igor Mazurenko came to me, to Ukraine to take the first lessons at armwrestling. I weighted then only 73kg whereas Igor 140kg. I saw him and got frightened… huge hands I have never seen in my life turned to be unable to do anything to me during the direct fight at the table. But Igor was tough and determined and did not give up. I saw as he was fighting with pain. Then I realized that he would be a great armwrestler. He got interested in the sport and phoned me every week and in the same year 1999 he organized the first duel between our competitors and competitors from Poland in Gdynia. „In 1999 I won my most precious trophy at 10th Zloty Niedzwiedz in Moscow. The tournament which is no longer organized then was arranged by the similar hothead of armwrestling as Igor Mazurenko from Poland - Igor Akhmiedshin from Moscow. Then Zloty Niedzwiedz enjoyed the same prestige as Zloty Tur Cup these days. The difference is that it was not so often showed on television. But it was prestige in the whole world. I hope Zloty Tur Cup will not have its last 10 years. Thank you for the indentation to the jubilee tournaments but because of my personal reasons I am not able to come. Currently I am wrapped up in work and rising three children. Last time I started at Zloty Tur in 2004. I did not even stand on the podium then. I suspect that would not have any chances with the main world’s armwrestlers these days. The prize I was in 2000 at first Zloty Tur is still my pride which I often show my friends and I talk about the tournaments. To retain the history of Zloty Tur I would like to pass the first Cup to the museum of Zloty Tur in Poland. Today I know that my name is written in the history of the tournaments forever.”