- On Saturday, November 6, Edward Fender died. It was a former tobogganer, who had the title of world vice-champion in twos
- In 1964 he played in the Winter Olympics in Innsbruck. For many years he was a coach of the tobogganing team on natural tracks. He has spent the last dozen years in a wheelchair
- “A great competitor, a fantastic man. The soul of the party – who has not had the opportunity to meet him, has nothing to regret. He loved life, he loved people, he loved sledges …” – this is how journalist Grzegorz Pajda said goodbye to Fendera on Facebook
Fender has been in a wheelchair for the past several years. It all started innocently. First he lost feeling in his toe. But when it hit his thigh, he realized it was probably no joke. The paralysis has reached the waist. Cause: polyneuroradiculopathy. It is a chronic autoimmune disease that causes demyelination of nerve trunks, roots, and nerve plexuses.
At the Olympics in Innsbruck, where tobogganing made its debut in the program of this event, he counted on a medal. After all, he was the runner-up in the world. It ended up in seventh place, which was a disappointment at the time. In those years, Poland was a power in this sport discipline.
– We had a sled, which rode better, but only in the cold. The thaw came just before the competition. I went to the mechanic to change the skids, but he didn’t want to unscrew a few screws. During training, as long as it was frosty, we did not fall out of the top three. Unfortunately, it was warm on the day of the competition and we took only seventh place. If the mechanic wanted to do some work on the sled, there would be a medal. I’m sure of it, recalled Fender.
Stanisław Paczka was killed in front of Fender in the 1969 world championship.
– Staszek made a wrong turn and when he was thrown, he flew about 80 m in the air. He fell into trees, his helmet, which was attached to such an oilcloth, was torn off. He hit his legs, then his head, and finally ripped off the aorta. He fell on his back and lay motionless. I was with him first, I was afraid to move him, and there were rivulets of blood running from his nose. Meat carriers with stretchers came, put them in a helicopter, said that he died in the hospital, but he was no longer alive there, on the spot – he recalled in an interview with Onet Sport.
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Kronika Lucjana Kudzi
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The career of Fender, who was associated with Bielsko-Biała, lasted a long time. He was 41 when he was still competing. In the years 1978-1983 he was a coach of the toboggan team on natural tracks. As a player, he represented such clubs as: MKS Bielsko-Biała, LZS Mikuszowice, SKS Start Bielsko-Biała and BBTS Włókniarz Bielsko-Biała.
The history of the Fender family was interesting. His grandfather was German and his father served in the Wehrmacht. He fought in Greece and was killed in the former Yugoslavia. So he grew up without a father.
“Edward Fender treated sport as having fun. He remembers many funny situations and has the gift of colorful stories. It was said that the likes of Fender are born once in a hundred years. Lively, fantasy, passionate about many sports. A bit too impulsive, but when necessary, capable of the greatest effort “- this is how Aniela Tajner wrote about Fender in the book” Legends of Polish Sport “.
“On Saturday morning, Edward Fender – PETI died. A great competitor, a fantastic man. The soul of the party – whoever had no opportunity to meet him has nothing to regret. He loved life, loved people, loved sledges …” – this is how journalist Grzegorz Pajda said goodbye to Fendera on Facebook.
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