Great Job, Heavyweights!

20.04.1971 (Sports)

When the last day of weightlifting competitions at the finals of the VIII Spartakiad of the Latvian SSR began, the "iron men" finally had no more complaints about the lack of spectators. In the small "Dinamo"facility there was no free space to be found in the sports hall.

The spectators were not disappointed. Representatives of both heavyweight categories not only competed in an unprecedentedly large number (around 20 in total), but also showed excellent performance.

In the first heavyweight, two dynamic men fought for victory - Valentīns Bročs and Kārlis Pumpuriņš. Starting after a longer break, V. Bročs nevertheless started the press with a respectable weight - 175 kg. It "obeyed" in the second attempt. K. Pumpuriņš is even more combative. 180 kg - is in the second, the top ten is immediately there - 190. The weight is above the head, but it is not possible to fix it. The barbell is stuck behind the athlete's back. A similar fate befalls Valentīnas in the third attempt at 185 kg. However, Kārlis would not be Kārlis if he were afraid of one failure. He demands 195 kg! A titanic effort, and the hall is ablaze with applause. In the third attempt, K. Pumpuriņš has set a new Latvian record in the press. After weighing the barbell, the judges specify its weight - 195.5 kg - that is the new record. The previous one that belongs to him has been corrected by 3 kg. In the special record attempt, Kārlis is still "trying" a new world record weight - 203.5 kg. It is above the head, but again the tricky balance ...

In the snatch, K. Pumpuriņš soon says goodbye to any big medal. He manages to control the starting weight - 140 kg - only in the last lift. V. Bročs is content with 135 kg. The new master of sports of «Daugava» J. Balgalvis is not so lucky. It is the snatch that is Jānis's "specialty". And it is here that he receives a zero. Jānis and Kārlis go to 147.5 kg in the fourth lift, but in the snatch the bar is like magic - almost, soon, and yet not.

It seems that the relative failures in the snatch had left an impression. In the clean and jerk, the favorites also remained with rather modest results. And yet, K. Pumpuriņš in the triathlon - 515, V. Bročas - 500 kg.

In the second heavyweight category, three representatives of the "500 kg club" are competing - A. Sliede (Di), G. Kalns (Da), V. Alksnītis (Vā). Alksnītis did not show his best performance this time, but the other two...

In the press, Arturs Sliede sets a new republican record in the third attempt - 190.5 kg after re-weighing of the bar!  The previous one was immediately improved by 4.5 kg. Such a start also raises hopes for a new achievement in the triathlon total. In the snatch, Arturs, after lifting 147.5 kg, declares 155. A small inaccuracy and failure. However, hopes for a new record in the triathlon are not lost yet. In the snatch, "only" 207.5 kg must be lifted. Such a weight has already been within A. Sliede's power. But Arturs sets 205 kg and demands 212.5! That would give a "round" 550 kg in the triathlon, 212.5 on the chest was, but that's all. In the triathlon total, the republican record was "only" repeated - 542.5 kg . And yet, the start of both students of the USSR Merited Coach M. Fraifelds, K. Pumpuriņš and A. Sliede, was excellent. Republic records are not born every day!

Guntis Kalns, a representative of «Daugava», managed to raise his personal and therefore the club record in the triathlon to 520 kg. Four «500 kg club» results in one day - not to be missed.

Results. 

First heavyweight. 

K. Pumpuriņš (Di) 515 (195+140+180) 

V. Bročs (Di) 500 (175+135+190)

I. Tērauds (Da) 447,5 (160 + 120+167,5)

Second heavyweight. 

A. Sliede (Di) 542,5 (190 + 147,5 + 205)

G. Kalns (Da) 520 (180+152,5+187,5)

R, Ābetiņš (Vā) 472,5 (170 + 125 + 177,5)

Teams:

«Dinamo» - 382p.

«Daugava» - 339

«ASK» - 219

«Vārpa» - 185

«Lokomotīve» - 86

H. LASMANIS