500 Gets Easier

30.12.1969 (Sports)

On Sunday, at the republican "Dinamo" open championships, our weightlifters tested the weight of the bars for the last time this year. And it turned out that they were not so "heavy" after all. RPI student A. Sliede exceeded the much-vaunted 500 kg mark in the second heavyweight. Seven new republican and two All-Union "Dinamo" records were also born .

First, A. Dinnikov conquered all possible republican records in the light lightweight category. In the clean and jerk, he lifted 118 kg and improved the previous record by 3 kg. In the snatch, Alexander finished the third attempt with 107.5 kg. But his own republican record, which he achieved in Berlin, is 110 kg. A little consultation with the Honored Coach of the USSR M. Freifeld, and 112.5 kg was placed on the bar for an additional attempt. This weight was also broken! In order for this result to be recognized as a new record, the personal weight of the lifter must be checked and the kilograms lifted must be weighed. Everything corresponds to the norm, lifted by 500 grams more - 113 kg. With this result, A. Dinnikov achieved a new republican and also improved one of the oldest All-Union "Dynamo" records, which had belonged to R. Tsimishkyan since 1954. In the clean and jerk, the new republican record was 140 kg. In the triathlon, A. Diņņikovs raised the record of Jēkabpils' J. Vītols by ten kilograms to 365 kg. It was not for nothing that A. Diņņikovs was included in the candidates for the USSR national team!

The second heavyweight athlete A. Sliede was eagerly awaited on the weightlifting floor. This time Artūrs was firmly determined to cross the 500 kg mark. He finished the press with 167.5. It was clear that he could do even more, but Artūrs did not panic, because there were two more exercises ahead. In the snatch, he said 137.5 and finished with 142.5. When he weighed the bar, it turned out to be 143. So a new republican record!  After two exercises, he had already lifted 310. In the clean and jerk, Artūrs must record 190 and 500 will be in his hands. He set 190 for the first attempt - won't that be too much? - some weightlifting experts and spectators thought.

Artūrs slowly approached the bar. He thought a little, bent down to the heavy weight. He grabbed the bar in a key grip, inhaled and the weight was already on his chest, inhaled again, the bar froze for a moment above his head. 500 lifted! But A. Sliedem had two more attempts in the clean and jerk. They also ended as successfully as the first. In the third, Artūrs holds the round 200 above his head . Although the referee, the silver medalist of the Melbourne Olympics V. Stepanovs, gives the signal "Lower!", Artūrs holds the weight above his head for a few more seconds and smiles. He has something to smile about! The total collected 510!  The father was the first to congratulate his son, then the others. Sliedem's results in the snatch, clean and jerk and triathlon total are new republic records. In the clean and jerk, there is also a new All-Union "Dynamo" CP record.

V. Pērkons also achieved a good result in the light heavyweight category - 487.5 kg. J. Poplavskis' performance in the light middleweight category - 415 kg is the second best result in the republic in this weight category.

The Latvian "iron fist" has an excellent record this year. Five world, five All-Union,

Fourteen All-Union «Dinamo», 60 Latvian records. Keep it up!

G. Bernhards