Yvel Knivevel - the most famous American stuntman, who performed incredible jumps on a motorcycle and got into the Guinness Book of Records for the largest number of broken bones. From this article you can find a biography of the great master of tricks.
Biography and filmography
Yvel Knivel (real name Robert Craig Knivel) was born on October 17, 1938 in Butte (Montana, USA). His nickname Evel - a distorted form of the word Evil, which in this context can be translated as "sinister" - Robert received at school, for his endless tricks. From birth, the young man had a great need for adrenaline, and therefore it was worth someone to tell the "sinister" Knovel something not to do - he immediately wondered how to do this in the very near future. Yvel Knivel in the photo below.
The need to constantly take risks and be on top led young Evel to ski jumping. But soon the young man became fewer usual ski jumps - he began to practice ski jumping in the wildest sections of various mountainous areas, which were abundant in Montana.
Ivel performed his first motorcycle stunts in 1966, at the age of 28. Despite the successful execution of various jumps, Yvel Knivel never was a stuntman. In his filmography - participation in many shows in which he appeared exclusively as a guest celebrity. The proud Pusel would never have agreed to perform the tricks of a movie hero, while remaining in the shade.
Jump through the fountains
The first trick that made Yvela Knivevel a world celebrity was to jump on a motorcycle through the fountains of the Caesar Palace entertainment complex in Las Vegas, on the eve of the new year, 1969. With his own money, Knivel bought the ABC broadcast of the jump. It was to perform this trick that he invented and first used his famous white costume in the style of Elvis Presley, with a waving cloak and stars of the American flag on his chest and belt.
The stunt was a success, but the landing almost cost the stuntman his life - his bones of his pelvis and hips were broken, his wrists and ankles were damaged. For twenty-nine days, Knivel lay in a coma, risking never again to get out of bed without crutches. A video of the famous jump is presented below.
Despite the prophecies of doctors, in May 1969, Yvel performed a new grandiose trick: on his motorcycle, he jumped over fifteen lined up Ford Mustangs. The landing was again unsuccessful - both kneevel's legs were broken.
