The Mazur Brothers
Tom Littlewood
Next month in Reno, while the rest of us are
mustering the strength to carry out the garbage, a
power lifter from the condos will be trying for a new
record in the World Association of Bench Press and
Dead Lift competition. Over the years, residents of our
town house complex have distinguished themselves in
many different fields of endeavor, but Ziemowit
Mazur is certainly the first world-class power lifter.
He and his brother Dominik, who is a year
younger (24), live at 2005 Vawter. They were born in
the highlands region of Poland near the border of the
Czech Republic. The family came to the U.S. when the
older of the brothers was 12. They settled eventually
in the south suburbs of Chicago, where his
schoolmates told Ziemowit that thereafter he would
be simply Z.
Both brothers wrestled and played on the
tennis team in high school. At the U of I, Z majored
in sport management, joined the power lifting club as
a hobby, and completed a masters degree in
education in May. A muscular 5-6 and 150 pounds, Z
represented his native Poland last year in Reno. He
brought back the second place trophy in the junior
division bench press competition, benching 250
pounds. This time he says he will be shooting for 305
pounds more than double his weight and two
pounds over the world record in his class.
It goes without saying that this is a young
man who exercises, avoids junk foods, and doesn't
have to worry about his belt getting too tight. His
drink of choice is green tea.
In December or January, he plans to begin a career here as a home-based personal trainer and nutrition adviser. "Fitness is a booming business," he points out, "helped along by all the get-fit-quick advertising. But it doesnt work that way. Life-style change is the only right way to fitness." He hopes to attract clients who are either too busy or too selfconscious to go to a gym regularly. Already certified as a personal trainer, Z has completed the requirements for an advanced specialist certificate in nutrition. He will either bring his conditioning equipment to your home or use yours. Either way he believes there is a waiting market in Urbana- Champaign for knowledgeable experts who make house calls.
