Today he has national and world champion titles in his armwrestling curriculum vitae.
His interest in sports started with football, he got into armwrestling after meeting a regional champion one day. It was this man who inspired him to start training.
- Why armwrestling? It’s a martial art, a one on one combat sport – says Engin.
He’s been training since 1985. In the beginning he was very weak, but he got better with time. In 1992 he placed 2nd in nationals, then he won a WAF silver medal. His first injury came in 1994, after he won the world championships.
- It happened while I was training, a typical case of golfer’s elbow (medial epicondylitis) – says Engin.
He doesn’t seem fazed by this though: - It happened to me at least 20 more times since then, in both arms.
He trains restlessly, but in his mind his biggest achievements are his wife and son. His future in armwrestling?
- Maybe a couple more senior medals….?
Iza Małkowska