Arturs Sliede - 540!

24.11.1970 (Sports)

The best second heavyweight athlete of our republic, RPI instructor Arturs Sliedes, was not lucky this year. In the spring, when the rest of our strongest athletes were competing in the USSR individual championships in Vilnius, Arturs stayed home. He had achieved excellent athletic form and… he had abraded the skin of his palm during training. Another minor “mistake” in the competitions of the VIII Spartakiad of the Latvian SSR. In the interests of the team, Arturs started with a significantly elevated temperature, even set one republican record, and yet . . . He had been drenched in sweat all winter for more than one record in one exercise.

Even now, at the end of the year - we have some strength left, but there is nowhere to show it. There are no official competitions. And then the weightlifters of «Dinamo» decided - they should hold a record-breaking attempt competition. Soon the USSR Cup will be held in Dnepropetrovsk, in which Artur must also participate. It would be more solid to go there with a decent official kilogram baggage.

... And so on Sunday, those who wanted to see the birth of new Latvian records gathered in the small training hall of «Dinamo». So that Arturs would not feel lonely, Vilis Pērkons, the bronze medalist of the national championship in light heavyweight, applied to be his companion, «in the role of a pusher». And not only in the role of a «pusher». He himself also hoped for a record, but most of all for 500 kg in the triathlon. Vilis, who this time competed in the first heavyweight, did not win. In the triathlon «only» 495 kg (165+145+180) and repeated J. Balgalvis' Latvian record in the snatch - 145.5 kg.

But now about Artur. The press started with 175 kg. His coach M. Fraifelds watched how this weight easily stabilized above the athlete's head, and showed the competition secretary ten fingers. So the next attempt at 185 kg. These kilograms also easily flew above the head, but our strongman leaned too much and… rubbed the boards of the riser behind Artur's back. None. Third attempt. Eh-eh! Yes. When weighing the bar, it becomes clear that the new Latvian record in the press for second heavyweight athletes is 186 kg!

Snatch. On the bar 142.5. Freifeld, when the weight is already above his head:

- Hold it, hold it!

Arturs Sliede with a weight in his outstretched arms:

- I'm holding, holding!

He held on. 150 on the bar. And there it is. The new record weight - 155 did not give up this time. But a simple calculation 185 + 150 = 335. The Latvian record in the triathlon is 522.5 kg. If Arturs pushes at least 190 kg, it will be a new one. But the starting weight declared in the protocol - 195… The judges call for 195. Fraifelds:

- Hold it, hold it!

Arturs:

- Yes, yes, yes!

It really is. A new Latvian record in the triathlon was born - 530 kg. But then it was only the first attempt in the clean and jerk. In the second on the bar 205 kg - a new record weight. That was also fixed. In the clean and jerk 205.5 kg. So the new republican and therefore also «Dinamo» CP record in the jerk is 205.5 kg, but the Latvian record in the triathlon total - 540 kg!  The previous one in the triathlon has been improved by 17.5 kg.

I would like to ask the Honored Coach of the USSR and the Latvian SSR M. Fraifelds to tell me about the prospects of Latvian weightlifters in the USSR Cup in Dnepropetrovsk:

- The 16 best in each weight category will be allowed to compete in the Cup. It seems that we will have quite a few representatives. V. Aņikins, A. Diņikovs, V. Ľebedevs, A. Majasins, G. Ivančenko, K. Pumpuriņš, S. Poltorackis, V. Pērkons, V. Bročs, A. Sliede. Maybe also S. Bizuls, J. Balgalvis, G. Kalns. The matches are very important, because they will determine the best “weightlifting republics”. Latvia hopes for third place. Leskait, just like at the V Spartakiad of the USSR, will be given by the eight best in each weight category. So there will be no jokes.

- And how about Ivanchenko?

- No injuries. Currently is training. Will compete.

All that's left to say: wishing them good lifting!

H. Lasmanis