Weightlifting World record holder Vasily Alekseyev dies at 69

Reuters ^ | November 25, 2011 | Gennady Fyodorov;

[PallMal]

Nov 25 (Reuters) - Former Soviet weightlifter Vasily Alekseyev, who won two Olympic and eight world super heavyweight titles and set 80 world records during his illustrious career, died on Friday following a long illness.

[WVRockDJ]

What you said. Alexseyev was a beast. RIP.

[LRoggy]

I believe Ken Patera was the first to 500 lbs and Alekseyev was second. They were supposed to have quite a battle at the 1972 Games but Patera failed to make a clean lift, so he couldn’t post a ‘total’ weight lifted score.

In the days of the Cold War he was one of the few Soviet athletes that seemed to have a personality.

[Jonty30]

World class weightlifters aren’t fat. They’re usually around 12 percent.

[Jonty30]

If he was Soviet, he was steroids.

That’s how they worked.

[Jonty30]

Goals of weightlifting and bodybuilding are different.

It doesn’t necessarily mean bodybuilders aren’t strong. Just look up Franco Columbo and Ronnie Cole.

[jessduntno]

“I remembered as kids we would practice weightlifting and we’d all pretend we are Alekseyev. Another icon of my youth gone.”

Hahahaha...out in the garage with the guys...big lift would get DAH! DAH!

[Falconspeed]

I remember watching Alekseyev on tv during the Olympics and always thought the phrase “clean and jerk” sounded unusual and primitive.

[OrangeHoof]

Yes, I remember him well. Huge as a bear. Sorry to see him go - more likely a victim of Russian health care than steroids. Juicers don’t live to be 69. Sure hate to be one of his pallbearers.

[Sea Parrot]

26, (nope, not naked, there was a g-string) then 56, I held up pretty well into my early 60s, today at 72, forgedabodit.

[Strk321]

“died of a long illness”

Whenever I read that, I assume cancer.

Anyway, Russia sure produces some epic weightlifters. Not sure exactly why, but they do.

[Sea Parrot]

“I remember watching Alekseyev on tv during the Olympics and always thought the phrase “clean and jerk” sounded unusual and primitive.”

LOL, what were your thoughts watching the Olympics as to the phrase, “snatch”?

[burroak]

The list is impressive. IIRC, he was paid extra for each record he set; hence, the small increments and numerous entries.

[Stonewall Jackson]

Good grief!!!

[98ZJ USMC]

unlike the dead U.S. Commie journalist on another thread today. That's always cause for a celebration, though.

[boop]

Wow! I thought that guy would have been long dead by now. I remember those pics of the barbell just bending under the weight, then the throw down THUMP!

[boop]

I am curious about that. Obviously Arnold S. was incredibly strong, but I wonder just how much weight he could lift at his peak.

[ADemocratNoMore]

I remember him. Hard to believe that it was almost 40 years ago. Found an interesting bio here...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VS7DsrynWWo&feature=related

According to one of the comments he was a graduate mechanical engineer.

RIP

[ADemocratNoMore]

I remember him. Hard to believe that it was almost 40 years ago. Found an interesting bio here...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VS7DsrynWWo&feature=related

According to one of the comments he was a graduate mechanical engineer.

RIP

[wardaddy]

Rip...what a hoss

[wardaddy]

U da man SP...