Let's keep our fingers crossed! (interview)

17.07.1971 (Padomju Daugava (Jēkabpils))

In Jēkabpils, the republic's weightlifting team, led by the USSR's Merited Coach Mikhail Fraifelds, made their final preparations for the Spartakiad of the Peoples of the USSR. The people of Jēkabpils did everything they could to ensure that the strongest men of Soviet Latvia could train successfully and achieve good results in the important competitions.

On Tuesday, July 13, the final training session of the national team took place in the Vārpa district gym. The team was Honored Coach of the USSR, senior coach of the national team Mikhail Fraifelds. Weightlifters Kārlis Pumpuriņš, Valentīns Bročs and others followed his every instruction precisely. The guys were already living, they would feel the upcoming fight. While they were doing the last exercises with the weight bars, we asked senior coach of the national team Mikhail Fraifelds to tell us how usefully the last preparation period had been.

- We worked intensively. There were days when the guys had to lift 13-15 tons in total per day. That's a lot of work. But if we want to hope for satisfactory success, then we have to sweat a lot in training. I am happy to admit that the team members exactly fulfilled the coaches' requirements. The guys tried.

- The final squad is now known. What is it?

- Yes, without a doubt. Vladimirs Aņikins, Aleksandrs Diņnikovs, Anatolyjs Majasins, European and world champion Gennady Ivančenko, Vilis Pērkons, Sergejs Poltoratskis, Kārlis Pumpuriņš, Valentīns Bročs and Arturs Sliede will travel to Moscow in order of weight categories . I will be helped by coaches Olģerts Bergmanis and Nikolajs Belousov. The team will also have doctor Semjons Gavartins and one of the best masseurs Harijs Bērziņš at its disposal. 

- But now a little about the predictions. Our strongmen will probably win four or five medals?

- Fans usually want a lot. But we must not forget that the upcoming competition is essentially reminiscent of the world championship. Almost all the best weightlifters in the world live in our country. The recent European Championship showed this once again. Therefore, I do not want to make any predictions. The fans will not forgive me if I am boastful. Besides, in a competition of this scale, the slightest mistake can lead to a completely unexpected failure. It will be good if every member of the national team does not finish lower than eighth place, which gives the team the necessary points. In short, we will do everything in our power. 

While we were talking with Mikhail Fraifeld, the guys finished lifting the last kilograms of weights and set off on their journey to Moscow. On the evening of the same day, shortly before the Riga-Moscow train arrived, a rally was held at the Krustpils railway station dedicated to the departure of the republic's weightlifting team to the V Spartakiad of the USSR Peoples in Moscow . It was opened by the chairman of the BSB "Vārpa" district council, Austris Janovskis. Our republic's sports representatives were warmly greeted by the deputy chairman of the district executive committee, Osvalds Strautiņš, the secretary of the Komsomol district committee, Harijs Rotkājs, and the physical trainer of the Ābeļi model farm, Mārtiņš Rupmejs. The best weightlifters of the republic and their coaches were presented with magnificent flowers. Among the escorts were also the chairman of the district executive committee, R. Salputra, and the chairman of the district committee of the Latvian Communist Party Secretary A. Spēka. 

At the end of the rally, Honored Coach of the USSR Mikhail Fraifelds spoke. He sincerely thanked the people of Jēkabpils for the care and attention they had given to the republic's weightlifting team, which was able to successfully complete the last training sessions before the important competitions.

The Moscow train arrives. The weightlifters are happily welcomed by the rest of the Latvian SSR sports delegation.

- Have a safe journey, comrades!

The fifth Spartakiad of the peoples of the USSR has already begun. The first results of the competitions in various sports are already known. The opening of the Spartakiad took place yesterday. Today the weightlifters begin the competition. One of the first to demonstrate his skills in Moscow is also the representative of our republic in the lightest weight, Vladimir Anikin.

Let's keep our fingers crossed!

G. Zemzars