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Strong as a Turk..What a group of impressive looking wrestling idols. Each one a legend and many are Balkan originated.
These lands was not only the heart and mind of the Ottoman but also the muscle. Considering that Selanik/Thessaloniki was an Ottoman town in 1913, they were unquestionably a European based Empire. The middle easternness of Turkey is a 20th Century issue which rolled over to the new century...Yes, still trying to convince EU.
Ottoman Era Oil Wrestling Champions of Kirkpinar Games
1861-1886 Gaddar Kel Aliço "Ruthless Bald Alico" ( b.1845 - d.1922)
Champion for 26 years. He left the wrestling when he was defeated by Koca Yusuf and became the coach of Adali Halil
1887 Koca Yusuf of Sumnu / Aliço apprentice (b.1857 Sumnu, near Deliorman Bulgaria - d. 4th of June 1898)
In 1885 he defeated Kel Alico at the Edirne Kirkpinar and got the Gold Belt. Champion for 18 years. He defeated all the wrestling champions in Europe and went to America to defeat Robert the Champion of America, becoming the Universal Champion of wrestling on the 21st of May 1898. Finally, in Chicago, Yusuf quickly defeated the famous Evan "Strangler" Lewis. After that, he boarded the liner La Bourgogne for the voyage back to France. Off Nova Scotia it hit another ship and sank, taking down 500 people including the Terrible Turk. The survivors remember Yusuf acting "like a wild beast." With a dagger in his hand, he forced his way through the frightened crowds waiting to board the lifeboats. By the time he reached the rails, a fully loaded boat was already being lowered. Ignoring the shouts of the crew, he jumped into it. His huge weight, together with the violence of his leap, overturned the boat and all its occupants were thrown into the sea. Yusuf, although a good swimmer, was dragged down the weight of his 10,000 Dollar gold belt.drowned.
1888 Adalı Halil Pehlivan / Aliço apprentice (b.1871 Kilise Köy,Greece - d.1926 Edirne)
He was buried on the special erected Pehlivan Cemetery. At the beginning of the Edirne Kirkpinar all wrestlers and officials go to his grave for a ceremonial prayer.
-Yusuf Pehlivan of Geçkin
1914 Hergeleci İbrahim (b.1848 in Islopol Razgrad - d.1915)
Hergeleci Ibrahim was nicknamed Hergeleci as he was trainer of wild horses. He defeated Adali Halil at the Edirne Kirkpinar and became the coach of Koca Yusuf. In Paris, France, he wrestled with Yusuf. The match was interrupted and never completed.
- Kara Murat of Çömlek Village
- Molla İzzet of Silivri
- Nakkaş Eyüp of Çatalca (b. Kestanelik Village near Catalca)
He was nicknamed Nakkas (miniaturist) because he was very carefully while wrestling, so everybody say his style is that of a miniaturist.
- Yenici Mehmet
- Mahmut of Kızılcık ( b.1878 Kizilcik near Dobruca ,Romania - d.1931 Eskisehir, Turkey)
After oilwrestling-fame of being Champion at the Edirne Kirkpinar he went to Paris where he stood undefeated after no less than 27 wrestling matches. His fame spread around the World and Kizilcikli Mahmut won all the wrestling matches he fought in the USA in the years 1908, 1909, 1919 and 1922.His legendary strenght is still remembered in Romania.
- Mehmet of Kurtdere ( b.1864 in Deliorman,Bulgaria)- d.1939 Balikesir, Turkey)
He wrested with all famous wrestlers of his time and was very famous. He traveled to France, Great Britain, The Netherlands and the USA but was never defeated.
- Çolak Mümin Molla ( b.1873 Kavala ,Greece - d.1915)
Molla Mumin became famous after he defiated Adali Halil. There are conflicting stories about this hero of the Edirne Kirkpinar.Mumin was called Colak for having one arm missing (or having it paralyzed?). One author claims in one and the same book that his one arm was missing, but at the end of the story both arms are gone.....
- Suyolcu Mehmet
1924 Benli Badullah First Champion of the Turkish Republic Era
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