Tsiklop Benkovskiy Athlete Country: Poland

1. Biography of Cyclops Benkovsky
2. Athletic Performances
3. Record-Breaking Performances
4. Legacy

Biography of Cyclops Benkovsky

Cyclops Benkovsky was born in 1863 in Poland. He quickly gained attention as an athlete in the championship, becoming the center of attention during the 1905 season. While he was not a skilled wrestler, his monstrous size and athletic tricks intimidated everyone. He could break chains and coins like no one else. I witnessed him effortlessly tear a broken copper coin in half with four fingers during a morning circus rehearsal in Warsaw. Such a figure had never appeared before among all the athletes and wrestlers who toured in Petrograd. His shoulder width, especially, was astonishing, measuring 162 centimeters with a height of 168 centimeters. When Cyclops confidently undressed, I took measurements of his muscles, and the numbers were mind-boggling: chest - 140 cm, biceps - 50-51 cm, forearms - 39 cm, thigh - 76 cm, neck - 55 cm, and calves - 49 cm.

Athletic Performances

Throughout the 1905 season, Cyclops captivated the public's attention and remained the central figure. While he was not a skilled wrestler, he terrified everyone with his monstrous size and athletic tricks. He could break chains and coins like no one else. I witnessed him effortlessly tear a broken copper coin in half with four fingers during a morning circus rehearsal in Warsaw. No other athlete could replicate this feat. Cyclops' strength was purely athletic, not wrestling-based. As new wrestlers emerged each year, Cyclops, also known as "Fat Franz," began to decline. Despite being a gentle person in life, he understood that a wrestler with his physique had to "be a beast" to generate interest. His "brutal acts" were featured in all sports news. He particularly enjoyed tormenting lightweight wrestlers. At first, he would offer them pasta, pretending to be friendly. Then, with a fierce expression, grinding his teeth and glaring menacingly with his fat-filled eyes, he would unleash his rage and strike so hard that sparks flew from his opponent's eyes. During Cyclops' wrestling matches, sticks, umbrellas, binoculars, and potatoes would often fly onto the arena or stage. In addition to his savage fighting style, Cyclops left an overwhelming impression on the audience with his appetite. He ate more than all the other wrestlers combined and drank beer like a bottomless barrel. He typically consumed five pounds of "Tatar beefsteak" while still eyeing his neighbors' plates.

Record-Breaking Performances

Benkovsky worked alongside the once famous Samson for a long time. He was particularly popular in the mid-90s in North America until his records were surpassed by Louis Cyr. Cyclops held the following records: he pushed a bulldog with a separate weight of 112 kg, pressed a one-handed barbell weighing 96 kg three times in a row, and while sitting on a chair, he lifted a 24 kg dumbbell from the table with an outstretched arm and held it horizontally in front of him.

Legacy

At one time, the name "Fat Franz" was a box office magnet for all championships.