Profile: Peter Michienzi

On Nov.6/03, Pete Michienzi was inducted into the London Ontario Sports Hall of Fame in recognition of his outstanding career as a 52 kg. wrestler. This self-taught grappler, still looking fit enough to go a few rounds, won an astonishing, record-setting 15 Canadian national championships over a period of 12 years. His nearest rival for the crown, Jim Trifunov, had seven. From 1957 to 1969 Pete won 10 freestyle titles and five Greco-Roman gold medals -all but one of them at 52 kg. His unorthodox style baffled everyone who met him for the first time and for most, remained unsolvable even subsequently.

It wasn't always an easy romp for in addition to the hard training after a full day's work running a paper press, Pete had to find facilities and training partners wherever he could - and remember, no coach. Jogging to work provided his much needed endurance exercise while scraping up funds to pay for trips to competition taxed his organizational/financial skills. There were no carded athletes in those days; no government assistance. Still, he overcame the obstacles consistently until he met one that very nearly finished his promising career before it had a chance to blossom. Pete's hand and forearm were crushed in a paper press in 1958. Would he ever compete again? Surgery and many months of rehabilitation exercise followed. Pete, when he was able to go back to work, took a sponge ball with him and at every opportunity stood or sat squeezing the ball in a determined effort to restore sufficient strength in the hand and forearm to enable him to wrestle once again. Despite the indication that his competition days were over, Pete was back on the mats within a year to reestablish his national dominance.

Naturally, one would expect an athlete of this calibre to represent Canada on the international stage and Pete became a member of the Commonwealth Games team in 1962 (silver medal) and 1966 (bronze medal) as well as the Pan-Am team of 1963 and 1967. He also was selected for the 1968 Olympic team where, unfortunately, he suffered a dislocated elbow in training shortly after arrival in Mexico.

After retiring from competition, Pete became a referee and continues his association with the sport as a founding member of the London-Western Wrestling Club in which he serves as treasurer.

Pete Michienzi's induction into the London Sports Hall of Fame is a well-deserved recognition of his skill as an athlete; his dedication to excellence; and his dogged determination in the face of great odds against him. Congratulations!