Meet
Petra Spatz
President of the German Armwrestling Federation
Hi Petra - how long have you
been armwrestling?
I have been armwrestling for 14 years. I began
competition at the German Championship in 1988.
How did you get started?
On a public festival the first Armwrestling Club in Germany promoted the sport.
For the first time I didn't know about this "unfeminine" sport, but my
husband supported me to visit the training of the club.
What happened?
First of all I was very surprised that the armwrestlers were different than I
had imagined. . But they welcomed me warm-hearted and encouraged me to take part
of the first German Championship. I was well trained in judo sports like Jujutsu
and so I had an advantage in the competition against other sportswomen,
especially in concentration, speed and fighting spirit. I won the German
Championship and flew a quarter year later in 1989 to Daytona Beach to the
Worlds of the WAWC. There I won the Vice Championship at 55 Kg.
What have you done since then?
Aside from the years of the birth of my daughters (just 8 and 11 years old) I
have been involved with this sport. But only 7 years after beginning of my
armwrestling career I was good enough to win one of the top 3 places at an
International competition. I worked hard on my technique and I had to accept
that I couldn’t make this sport beside other activities to be successful.
Since 1995 I got to know the International family and I tried to visit
competitions as much as possible to learn new things for me and my armwrestling
friends in Germany.
Well what exactly have you won all over the
world?
German Championships (13 participations) 9 times German Champion, 4 times Vice
German Champion European Championships (3 participations) 1996 3rd place, 1997
3rd place right, 2nd place left, 1999 2nd place left World Championships (3
participations) 1989 (WAWC) 2nd place right, 1996 (Virginia beach) 2nd place
left, 2001 Poland 4th place left More than 40 cups on International competitions
(most 1st places)
Armwrestling Workouts?
My personal insiders tip is climbing. Important is that you climb only with your
hands and without your legs (some climber are wondering about this style). This
is optimally for the fingers, hand and the forearm. Also the pull up only with
the arms on a bar is recommended.
Recommendations For New Armwrestlers?
For all new armwrestlers I suggest they take the time to learn the right
technique to prevent injuries. It was not for me only the sportive challenge
that give me the armwrestling kick. It's more the atmosphere on competitions and
the friendly relationship of the athletes among themselves. Sometimes I saw that
two competitors after a hard fight stand at an armwrestling table and instruct
new tricks to each other so that on the next competition they will improve their
technique to win. This is the best way to learn new things. Also I am convinced
that in no other sport the wrestlers celebrate so much. Neither different
culture, language nor nationality are a problem. Furthermore armwrestlers from
Eastern Europe are after a short time friendly to the rest of the world.
What will you wish for the future of the sport?
One part of my dream came true in this year. The European armwrestlers joined
into one. Many concessions are necessary to make this important step. In 2003
Germany is arranging the European Championship and I'm very proud to welcome a
united Europe in my country for a grandiose competition. I hope that the right
people will be candidates for our new executive committee. Sportsmen who will
support the sport and are not interested in influence and money. But also the
WAF has to decide the next steps to join the armwrestlers worldwide. After the
splitting of the federations it was not the greatest thing for me to visit a
World Championship. The attraction to meet the best armwrestlers of the world
was decreased and I considered no longer attending a World Championship.
I see also without pleasure that doping is more and more a problem. I'm very
angry when I see that fair and hard trained armwrestler have no chance for final
fights. Therefore I wish we were able to find ways to control that situation.
In the last year I learned that every armwrestler could contribute for the
reunification. We've come together to talk respectfully and to be able to
compromise. Nobody should be anxious to lose face. The reunion was possible
because teams that were on both sides demonstrated good cooperation and
friendship.
Well done and thank
you Petra!
