Long Island Daredevil, Acrobat Wows Judges on 'America's Got Talent'

He's wowed audiences nationwide with his daring, dazzling acts that have audiences gasping. 

Most recently, The Amazing Sladek, America's oldest daredevil acrobatic handbalancer even stunned judges Simon Cowell, Howie Mandell Mel B. and Heidi Klum on NBC's "America's Got Talent," getting four out of four votes and advancing to the next round.

They were awestruck not only by his talent, but by the fact that, at 58, Sladek is still going strong.

The Amazing Sladek, who was born Gary Borstelmann in North Babylon and lived for a number of years in Riverhead near his sister Jan McGoey, known in the area for her own talent on the stage,  comes from a theatrical family; he appeared on "America's Got Talent" with his brother Broadway Jim.

"This is the 'Oh my goodness,' of my life," he told the judges.

But it's been a lifetime of oh-my-goodness moments, as Sladek has, for 38 years, kept crowds on the literal edges of their seats, watching in awe as he manages to balance, on one hand, atop a table and six balanced chairs in a series of death-defying stunts.

Sladek performed before the "America's Got Talent" judges in Pasadena and he said he was "blown away from start to finish" by the experience.

Most acts get 90 seconds onstage but due to the dangerous nature of his acrobatics, he was onstage for close to 10, with a seven minute segment airing nationally, doing handstands on the chairs. His little brother Broadway Jim entertained, too, doing pirhouettes as he threw up the chairs. Being on national television, Sladek said, "was just an amazing experience."

It was a performance that garnered him a standing ovation and sent him soaring to the next, or middle round, one of 80 acts chosen out of an initial 20,000 that auditioned.

But even if he never progresses further in the competition, performing on the show was a priceless experience, Sladek said. "I'll have that seven minutes for the rest of my life."

It's a life that's glittered with excitement as Sladek performs across the country as an NBA halftime entertainer, showcasing his act, including the amazing Tower of Chairs, at colleges nationwide. In 2015, he won an award and was voted the "Best NBA Halftime Act."

Each year, he travels 50,000 miles per season bringing his acts of daring on the road, traveling from coast to coast in his Chrysler Town and Country.

A born entertainer

His taste for adventure began when Sladek was only a little boy growing up in a regular working class Long Island town. When he was 12, his best friend took lessons at the June Claire Dance Center; the two would jump on the beds and Sladek's love of acrobatics was born.

In junior high school, he joined the gymnastics team and continued on through North Babylon High School, where he graduated in 1976.

He won the title of Suffolk County gymnastics champion for floor exercises in 1975.

Initially, he went to college to be a gym teacher, and studied for two years at Farmingdale State College before he got a summer job in 1978 with the famed Royal Hanneford Circus, he said.

From that moment on, Sladek knew he'd found his destiny.

"That was my start, performing acrobatics, and it just went on from there," he said.

He traveled to Germany with a daredevil act and later, in 1982, won a gold medal in Mexico City for his performance. 

It's an act that's continued to keep audiences rapt for 38 years, and Sladek has no intention of stopping.

Of his decades-spanning career, he said, "Ninety percent of circus performers, acrobats, in show business are done at the age of 35, either becoming clowns or training dogs for dog shows. I'm a special case because I was a champion gymnast and I had ballet training. Flexibility is the key to longevity. That's my motto."

He laughed. "I tell all the young guys at the gym, who ask me, 'How old are you? How do you do those handstands?' I say it's all about flexibility and if they listen, they can continue until they're 100 years old like me."

Sladek's daily workout, on the days he's not performing, includes one hour at the gym, a regimented routine — he never lifts weights because he doesn't want to get tight; instead, he strives for a "perfect swimmer's body, with flexibility and strength" — that takes an hour and touches upon strength, balance and flexibility. The entire workout takes place on a 6 x 6 square foot mat and includes saddle stretches, handstands, and core exercises.

The day he can't complete his workout is the day he'll stop doing his act, Sladek says. "You can't fight Father Time. But I'm still in the ring with Father Time and I'm not done yet."

His aim is to keep performing until he reaches the traditional retirement age, 65. "My goal is to do my last act on my 65th birthday and then, I will be able to say I worked my entire career standing on my hands."

Sladek, who's well known on Long Island, says his life is spent on the road. "I've been high class homeless for years," he joked, traveling not only in his Chrysler, but in a pickup, a 36-foot travel trailer, and a Miata, all of which he paid for in cash.

"I risk my life for my living," he said. "I don't get rich, but I'm a gypsy on the road performing — and I love it."

But there are certain risks too great even for the world's oldest daredevil.

On "America's Got Talent" Sladek said Simon Cowell asked him if he'd add more chairs to the teetering pile of six. "I told him, 'My chairs don't stack together. This is not magic. It's an old school, daredevil act. I'm a human Jenga, but the laws of physics won't allow me to go any higher. Even for a master handbalancer, that would be a death wish. I'm a true daredevil act, but I can't take that chance. If I ever fell, it would be catastrophic."

Asked if he's ever fallen, Sladek, as he always does, knocks on wood. "No," he said. "Not in 38 years."

But rather than cocky, his response is sincerely grateful. "I'm humbly, humbly confident. Every time I do an act, you can see the stress on my face. I am nervous every time I do the show. But that nervousness means you have respect for what you are doing. I have to be smart, and think, 'When will I do my last act?' I don't want to be that one old prizefighter that gets knocked out. I don't want to fall. If I ever fell from the top of those chairs, 25 feet in the air, that would be a touch one to survive."

Some days, there have been hair-raising close calls, Sladek says. "I pray about it. I thank God for keeping me safe."

No matter how far he travels, Sladek still  has a soft spot in his heart for home. He plans to return to Long Island on August 26 for a gymastics reunion with his former North Babylon coach Mike Twohig, who now lives in Greenport. "I was always one of his favorites," Sladek said.

And, too, he'll make time for family, including his sister McGoey, who was thrilled to see her brother on television last week. "Watching my brother Gary on AGT was exhilirating!  I sat with Mom and Dad, in their living room, in Florida, with Gary on Skype as he was in a hotel room in Cleveland, with brother Jimmy on his phone. That was the best way we could all be together," she said.

"The anticipation was great," she added. "We know the act is wonderful, but what would the judges say? Would they show some back story? It was thrilling to see the family photos and to watch him be interviewed. The act was so good and the judges loved him! We were all screaming and jumping up and down.  As always, I still got scared — when the chairs shake and they zoomed in on it I was so nervous. When they ended with the phone call home to Mom and Dad, and we hear Dad's voice, we all got teary. It is so special to have our 86-year-old parents be able to experience this success."