World famous trapeze star Tony Steele is making a comeback after a medical setback.
The 78-year-old suffered a stroke in January that required brain surgery. But last week, he was back on the trapeze. flying through the air.
Steele left home at age 15 to join the circus and quickly became a star for his innovative moves. He traveled the world as a headlining act with circuses. He is made the Guinness Book of World Records for one of his moves.
"It's the most fun you can have with your clothes on," Steele said, laughing, of his love for the trapeze.
After his wife died about 10 years ago, Steele started living with longtime friend and fellow trapeze performer John Zimmerman in Haines City. Zimmerman has a huge trapeze rig in his back yard. Steele practiced his moves there and often traveled to other parts of the country to teach trapeze.
After the stoke, Steele was worried his days on the trapeze were over. But he has made a remarkable recovery. A couple of weeks ago, he started practicing again with a safety harness.
This past week, Steele flew for the first time without a safety harness. He flew through the air, let go of the bar and did a flip in the air before landing safely in the net below.
He said it was a terrifying but exhilarating experience.
"Do you want to die happy or do you want to die sitting on the couch watching TV?" he asked.
Zimmerman's wife Paula Blackwelder, who is also a trapeze performer, has written a book about Tony Steele's life. It's titled "From Gazoonie to Greatness."