RECORDS — World and Latvian

29.12.1970 (Padomju Jaunatne)

Vasilijs ALEKSEJEVS - 625 kg,

Artūrs SLIEDE — 542,5 kg

On the last day of the USSR Weightlifting Cup, Shakhtar strongman Vasily Alekseev set three new world records. First, he broke the record in the press — 222 kg, then in the snatch — 229.5 kg. A new world record was also set in the total — 625 kg (220 + 175 + 230). The weight entered for the snatch in the triathlon is 230 kg, but when the bar was weighed, it turned out to be half a kilogram lighter.

In the second heavy weight, the small silver medal was won by S. Batishevs - 575 kg, and the bronze - by A. Rybokons (Belarus) - 550 kg.

Our Artūrs Sliede reached the Latvian record a month ago in Riga — 540 kg. The prestige of the heaviest man was dealt a blow in Dnepropetrovsk by the first heavyweight athlete Kārlis Pumpuriņš. By lifting 540 kg, he became a co-author of the Latvian absolute record.

Artūrs still had the "last word". In the clean and jerk, it was not very impressive - 180 kg, 6 kg worse than his own record. However, in the snatch, A. Sliede improved his own and also the republican record from 150 to 155 kg . 

Then, in the clean and jerk, Artūrs exceeded the record by two kilograms — 207.5 kg. The total came out to 542.5 kg — the absolute record for weightlifters in the republic . Fourth place was secured.

To win a bronze medal, you have to lift 215 kg. Artūrs tried, but it seems he lacked the faith that the barbell could already be lifted above his head.

Our other heavyweight, Jānis Balgalvis, was the lightest in this company — he lifted 467.5 kg in the triathlon.

The USSR Cup was won by the KPFSR weightlifting team. At the same time, in Estonia, Jāns Taltss improved world record in the clean and jerk for first heavyweight (up to 110 kg) athletes — 201 kg.