Can He Do 500?

08.10.1968 (Sports)

Our weightlifters have recently set more than one republican record, but two achievements of V. Stepanov 430 kg in middleweight (1956) and O. Bergmanis 482.5 in heavyweight (1961) still stand unshakable. Therefore, it is very pleasing that in the recently held dynamic competitions, middleweight G. Ivanchenko and heavyweight A. Sliede made a strong attack on the "stale" records. 

Young athlete Gennady Ivanchenko collected 432.5 kg (135 + 127.5 + 170) in the triathlon, improving the 12 year-old record of V. Stepanov. In the clean and jerk, Gennady recorded 174 kg, which is also a new republican record. Even before the competition, Arturs Sliede  promised to improve the record in the clean and jerk. He succeeded in this perfectly. Arturs already recorded 191.5 kg in the second attempt, immediately improving his previous achievement by 6.5 kg. Only minor mistakes in the press and snatch forced him to settle for a total of 470 kg in the triathlon (150 + 132.5 + 187.5), which is the athlete's personal record. Our national team coaches are confident that in the near future Arturs will be able to lift 200 kg in the clean and jerk and 500 kg in the triathlon, which will allow us to partially regain our lost positions in the heavyweight category in the All-Union arena.

The results of the winners in the order of weight categories: V. Rogozhnikovs 190, M. Immermanis 230, G. Kalniņš 240, V. Maliakhovs 285, V. Rogačovs 360 (ex. conc. G. Ivanchenko 432.5), V. Bročs 407.5, I. Strelkovs 220 and A. Sliede 470 kg .

V. BRIEDIS