The Spartakiad of the Nations is coming.

11.06.1967 (Padomju Jaunatne)

The senior of the republic's national weightlifting team answers questions from "Soviet Youth" coach Mikhail Freifeld.

1. What are the specifics of the national team's training in preparation for the Spartakiad of Nations?

2. Can new names appear in the national team? Which athletes do you consider to be the most promising?

3. What difficulties do you encounter when preparing for the Spartakiad?

4. What are your thoughts on your main competitors?

5. What interesting competitions will there be before the Spartakiad?

[...]

2) There will be new names in the national team, if only because this time the team has increased from the traditional eight to twelve. There is no question that one of the strongest athletes in each weight category should be entered. I think that Diņnikovs and Lebedevs will be able to fight for a place in the top six. Majasins, Pērkons, Pumpuriņš should also be there or very close. 

In which weight categories to enter four more athletes — I can’t say right now. At the Spartakiad, points are needed for the team, not the results of the master or even the republic’s records. In some weight categories, there are many strong athletes in other teams, so even the master may be left without points. But in another — even a candidate for master will bring 7-8 points. That is why I need not up to twelve, but at least fifteen athletes for Moscow. Only there, after preliminary reconnaissance (even then the risk will be great), will it be possible to determine the most correct distribution of forces. The coaches of all the teams will be in an equally unenviable situation: everyone will probe, everyone will take risks. The decisive decision will have to be made before the athletes step on the scales.

When calculating absolute kilograms, the most talented weightlifter seems to me to be Artūrs Sliede , who has finally completely parted ways with athletics. In him I see a man who, after a couple of years of training, will be able to lift 500 kilograms. So far, he has only lifted the weight of a master, but has not held it above his head. Therefore, he is considered a candidate for master. My prediction may seem bold, so it would be worth adding: «If Artūrs trains just as hard, if…» But this is the basis of any athlete's success.

[...]