Josip Primožič - Tošo
Maribor sports legend
Usually modest, friendly, fun, full of energy and eternal romantic. His life path is closely intertwined with his love for gymnastics, fine arts and, above all, his family.
The tombstone of Josip Primožič - Toš is adorned with a painting palette behind the Olympic rings. A symbol of a painter and a gymnast. A symbol that tells the story of a top athlete who, after finishing his sports career, devoted himself entirely to his great love - painting.
Childhood and youth
Josip Primožič was born in the first months of the 20th century and his youth is permeated with stories that describe the demands of this period in Slovenian and European society. His mother died young of tuberculosis. Thus, at the age of seven, Josip had to go to be raised by his uncle and eleven cousins. The difficult childhood was later reflected in many of Josip's values, in his attitude towards people and in his artistic expression.
Already in childhood, he walked on his hands, watched and imitated circus artists. He redraws images from the Bible and exchanges them for buns. While riding to the front in uniform just before the end of World War I, he decides to escape from the train and spends a few months as a servant on a farm in Dolenjska.
The beginning of his sports career
It was only in the army of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes that Josip Primožič began to devote himself more seriously to gymnastics as a sporting activity. In 1923, he became a member of the Ljubljana Sokol and showed his talent. In his performances around Serbia, he quickly won the hearts of spectators as an athlete and at the same time as a comedian on the theater stage.
Within a year, he had progressed so much that he was invited to a selection competition to form the team for the Olympic Games in Paris. He managed to be among the selected ones and thus took part in his first Olympic Games in 1924. Over the next sixteen years, he developed into one of the best gymnasts in the world.
Moving to Maribor
He moved to Maribor in 1928 at the invitation of Leon Štukelj, who wanted an equal gymnast by his side. Primožič's sporting achievements continued and reached their peak in 1930 in Luxembourg, when he became a four-time world champion and won 5 gold medals (in addition to the individual and team medals). Eight years later, at the World Championships in Prague, he won two bronze medals (on the parallel bars and in the team). His friends enjoyed his sporting achievements and his cute antics, which made them laugh at almost every get-together.
At the same time, his family enjoyed his love. His wife Avgusta received letters from his travels every day, and his daughter Maja and son Jože received postcards. At home, he drew their portraits, encouraged them and took them for walks. He was a role model for husbands and fathers for the generations of that time and the present.
Painting and theatre
The year before World War II, Primožič's rich sporting career ended. He got a job as a draftsman for a construction company. He increasingly devotes himself to his love, which has accompanied him since his youth – painting. Many Maribor apartments are still full of his works today.
At the beginning of the war, Primožič decides to join the resistance movement. First, he cooperates with the OF, then becomes a member of the Communist Party, but soon leaves. Instead of a political career, he chooses art. He establishes himself as a painter and exhibits at 160 solo and group exhibitions. Until his retirement, he maintains his love of comedy and fine arts at the Slovenian National Theatre Maribor as a set designer and director of the technical workshop, where he is credited with setting 65 scenes for drama, opera and ballet performances. After retirement, he devotes himself entirely to painting, his first and greatest love.
And sometimes, while walking, precisely because of his well-known mischievousness, he approaches children on the playgrounds. Without words or explanations, he shows them some of the gymnastics skills that they need to master. For this, they must above all practice a lot. Remain humble, mischievous, loving and respectful. Unless, of course, they want to become a Maribor sports legend one day.
Maribor sports legend
Usually modest, friendly, fun, full of energy and eternal romantic. His life path is closely intertwined with his love for gymnastics, fine arts and, above all, his family.
The tombstone of Josip Primožič - Toš is adorned with a painting palette behind the Olympic rings. A symbol of a painter and a gymnast. A symbol that tells the story of a top athlete who, after finishing his sports career, devoted himself entirely to his great love - painting.
Childhood and youth
Josip Primožič was born in the first months of the 20th century and his youth is permeated with stories that describe the demands of this period in Slovenian and European society. His mother died young of tuberculosis. Thus, at the age of seven, Josip had to go to be raised by his uncle and eleven cousins. The difficult childhood was later reflected in many of Josip's values, in his attitude towards people and in his artistic expression.
Already in childhood, he walked on his hands, watched and imitated circus artists. He redraws images from the Bible and exchanges them for buns. While riding to the front in uniform just before the end of World War I, he decides to escape from the train and spends a few months as a servant on a farm in Dolenjska.
The beginning of his sports career
It was only in the army of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes that Josip Primožič began to devote himself more seriously to gymnastics as a sporting activity. In 1923, he became a member of the Ljubljana Sokol and showed his talent. In his performances around Serbia, he quickly won the hearts of spectators as an athlete and at the same time as a comedian on the theater stage.
Within a year, he had progressed so much that he was invited to a selection competition to form the team for the Olympic Games in Paris. He managed to be among the selected ones and thus took part in his first Olympic Games in 1924. Over the next sixteen years, he developed into one of the best gymnasts in the world.
Moving to Maribor
He moved to Maribor in 1928 at the invitation of Leon Štukelj, who wanted an equal gymnast by his side. Primožič's sporting achievements continued and reached their peak in 1930 in Luxembourg, when he became a four-time world champion and won 5 gold medals (in addition to the individual and team medals). Eight years later, at the World Championships in Prague, he won two bronze medals (on the parallel bars and in the team). His friends enjoyed his sporting achievements and his cute antics, which made them laugh at almost every get-together.
At the same time, his family enjoyed his love. His wife Avgusta received letters from his travels every day, and his daughter Maja and son Jože received postcards. At home, he drew their portraits, encouraged them and took them for walks. He was a role model for husbands and fathers for the generations of that time and the present.
Painting and theatre
The year before World War II, Primožič's rich sporting career ended. He got a job as a draftsman for a construction company. He increasingly devotes himself to his love, which has accompanied him since his youth – painting. Many Maribor apartments are still full of his works today.
At the beginning of the war, Primožič decides to join the resistance movement. First, he cooperates with the OF, then becomes a member of the Communist Party, but soon leaves. Instead of a political career, he chooses art. He establishes himself as a painter and exhibits at 160 solo and group exhibitions. Until his retirement, he maintains his love of comedy and fine arts at the Slovenian National Theatre Maribor as a set designer and director of the technical workshop, where he is credited with setting 65 scenes for drama, opera and ballet performances. After retirement, he devotes himself entirely to painting, his first and greatest love.
And sometimes, while walking, precisely because of his well-known mischievousness, he approaches children on the playgrounds. Without words or explanations, he shows them some of the gymnastics skills that they need to master. For this, they must above all practice a lot. Remain humble, mischievous, loving and respectful. Unless, of course, they want to become a Maribor sports legend one day.
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