Team Czechoslovakia in Poland (1957)
The cover photo features Team Czechoslovakia Weightlifting in Poland during the 1957 European Championship in Katovice. The original black-and-white photo courtesy of Karel Prohl (vzpirani.cz).
(left to right):
Vaclav Psenicka Jr., Julius Paiger, Vaclav Surovy, Zdenek Srstka, Bedrich Poula, Joseph Hantych
More info on personalities on the photo was provided by Karel Prohl
Václav PŠENIČKA Jr. (5.14.1931 Praha – 12.31.2015 Praha)
11x Champion of Czechoslovakia
Competed at 2 Summer Olympics:
1952 Middleweight 11 100+107.5+142.5 = 350
1956 Light Heavyweight 6 125+120+155 = 400
Competed at 9 European Championships with the best performance:
1953 Middleweight 2 105+112.5+145= 362.5
1954 Light Heavyweight 3 120+117.5+157.5= 395
1955 Light Heavyweight 2 122.5+117.5+155= 395
1956 Light Heavyweight 2 120+120+160= 400
1957 Light Heavyweight 2 127.5+120+155= 402.5
1958 Middle Heavyweight 3 130+122.5+165= 417.5
1959 Light Heavyweight 3 125+120+157.5= 402.5
Competed at 7 World Championshps – 4th place in 1954, 1958, 1959
Best result 417.5kg (135+122.5+161) in the 90 kg
Julius PAIGER
3x champion of Czechoslovakia ( 1953, 1954, 1957).
Competed at the European Championships in 1956 and 1957 in the 75 kg class.
Best results:
EC’1956 Helsinki – 7th place 340kg (97.5+107.5+135);
EC’1957 Katowice – 6th place 342.5kg (100+107.5+135).
Václav SYROVÝ (6.11. 1934 – 3.25. 2010)
Champion of Czechoslovakia in 1957-1962).
Bronze medals at the European championships in 1957 and 1958.
Best performance at the World championship – 5th place in 1958
Summer Olympics 1960 – 8th place with 447.5kg (145+127.5+172.5) in the 90kg+ class.
Best total – 447.5kg (151+130.5+172.5) in 1960.
Zdenek SRSTKA (9.26. 1935)
4x champion of Czechoslovakia(1957, 1959, 1960, 1961.
Competed for the national team in 1956-1962.
Became a popular film actor, entertainer and stuntman.
At the EC 1957 took 3rd place in the 90lg class with 382.5kg (120+110+152.5) in the category up to 90 kg.
Competed at the Olympics in 1960 (8th place in the 90 kg with 405kg (122.5+127.5+155).
Bedrich POULA (11.17. 1917 Linec – 4.5. 1994 Praha)
Began weightlifting in 1933.
Champion of Czechoslovakia in 1945.
At the WC 1946 took 15th place with 267.5kg (75 + 82.5 +110) in the 82.5 kg class.
In 1953 – 1958, he was the coach of the national team.
In 1958 – 1978, President of the Czechoslovak Union of weightlifting.
In 1956 – 1984, FIHC member (IWF).
In 1968 – 1984, Vice President of IWF.
In 1985, received the Chairman of the IOC Antonio Samaranch Olympic silver Regulations.
Josef HANTYCH (11.12. 1911 – 2.28. 1997)
In 1933 – 1953 he won 19 championship of Czechoslovakia.
Summer Olympics 1936 – 10th place with 327.5kg (85+107.5+135) in the 75 kg class.
Summer Olympics 1952 – 15th place with 345kg (95+110+140) in the in 82.5 kg class.
At the same time he served as national coach. Competed at the European Championships in 1933 and 1947 and tt the World Championships in 1937, 1946 and 1947 (weightlifting + bodybuilding).
In 1955. he served as the president of the Czechoslovakian Weightlifting Union.