Excellent, Latvian Strong Men!

26.12.1970 (Rīgas Balss)

Last year, the successes of Latvian weightlifters were so remarkable that they can rightfully be called the best "representatives" of our republic's sport in 1970. This was also confirmed by yesterday's achievements at the USSR Cup in Dnepropetrovsk, where two students of coach Mikhail Freifelds once again excelled.

Special joy for our Kārlis Pumpuriņš, who started one weight category higher than

usually - in the 1st heavyweight. And immediately in the triathlon an excellent world-class result - 540 kg (192.5 + 145 + 202.5). The athlete improved his personal record by a whole 32.5 (!) kilograms and for the first time fulfilled the norm of a master of sports of the international class. Until recently, this would have been a new world record, but now it is "only" a new record of our republic.

K. Pumpurlnš won second place. He was beaten by Valerijs Jakubovskis from Minsk - 545 kg.

The third - 23-year-old Leningrad resident P. Pervushin, who lost to Pumpuriņš by 10 kilograms.

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Today, the heaviest strongmen will compete - the 2nd heavyweight athletes. Among them will be the absolute world record holder Vasilijs Alekseev, who has just been nominated by the West German press agency DPA as the world's best athlete of 1970 after a survey. Our republic's record holder Arturs Sliede , who recently achieved a new Latvian record - 540 kg, will also compete.