Stef Kurpas – 1955 to 2018

Stef’s  list of achievements in freestyle wrestling include:

  • Commonwealth Games Brisbane 1982,
  • Olympic Games Los Angeles 1984.
  • British middleweight champion 1981, 82, 84, 85.

Stef Kurpas continued to train here at the Manchester YMCA and coached many of the younger wrestlers before he sadly passed away in 2018.

Here Stef talks about what it was like to train at the old YMCA on Peter Street, Manchester…

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Joining the YM was to prove to be the smartest move I made in my life. At last I had a sense of belonging; I was to enjoy a sense of camaraderie that has thus far in my life been unequalled. I had joined the biggest and best gang in Manchester – THE YMCA!

Stef Kurpas

  • 1982 Brisbane Commonwealth Games team - Left to right: Back Row: Brian Aspen, Fitz Walker, Stef Kurpass, Mark Dunbar, Stan Gilligan Front Row: Keith Peach, Bert Jacobs, Kenny Dawes
  • Stef training with Ron Arkinstall
  • Stef Kurpass taking Five
  • 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Wrestling Team - Left to right: Back row: Stef Kurpass, Noel Loban, Fitz Walker, Mark Dunbar. Front row: Brian Aspen, Steve Bayliss, Gary Moores.
  • Stef in Olympic attire - 1984, Los Angeles
  • Stef Kurpas - Training at the old YM early 1980s
  • Prize giving interclub competition 2010
  • Aspull International 2011 with Y Club wrestlers

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