2012 European Weightlifting Championships

[Randall Strossen]

Leading up to the London Olympics, there are two major continental championships in weightlifting: the European Championships and the Asian Championships, and both are next month.

To get the ball rolling, look who's entered in the supers and in the 105s at the European Weightlifting Championships:

http://www.ironmind.com/

http://www.ironmind.com/ironmind/opencms/Articles/2012/Mar/European_Weightlifting_Championships-Chigishev_Steiner_Scerbatihs.html

Should be good!

[Lars Daviesson]

Randy, maybe this question has been asked a million times but is Andrei Aramnau lifting in this competition or the Olympics? Thanks.

[Randall Strossen]

Lars -

He's not on the entry list I've seen and Belarus has another lifter (Mikhail Audzeyev) listed for the 105-kg category so while it's not certain, I'd say it's not looking good for Aramnau at this point. I can ask Kurlovich what the deal is when I get to Turkey.

[Lars Daviesson]

Lars -

He's not on the entry list I've seen and Belarus has another lifter (Mikhail Audzeyev) listed for the 105-kg category so while it's not certain, I'd say it's not looking good for Aramnau at this point. I can ask Kurlovich what the deal is when I get to Turkey.

That's really to bad. He's a beast, and could have done some real damage in that class. I know he was suspended for something or other... It would be awesome if you could clear up the smoke! have a great time in Turkey!!!

[Randall Strossen]

That's really to bad. He's a beast, and could have done some real damage in that class. I know he was suspended for something or other... It would be awesome if you could clear up the smoke! have a great time in Turkey!!!

Lars -

Speaking of smoke, it was pot that got Andrei into trouble most recently as I recall—I think he had a DUI before that.

[mike anderson]

Randy,

Any word on what kind of shape Chigishev might be in? He keeps getting that weird leg injury, seems like every other competition it stops him cold...

BTW-if you need someone to carry around your camera equipment in Turkey I'm available for the job:)

[Randall Strossen]

Mike -

Your offer sounds pretty good: years ago, lugging maybe 15 kg of camera stuff all over the place, I used to say, "I need a Sherpa." Now I say, "I am a Sherpa." :;lh)

I think it's a hamstring injury and that's what I was told most recently in Belarus. German coach Frank Mantek said to me, "old muscle," suggesting that this will be an ongoing problem for Chigishev, but time will tell. Personally, I'd love to see "the moral victor" knock one out of the park in London.

Randy

[Randall Strossen]

Anybody here following the European Weightlifting Championships?

[Bill Crawford]

Absolutely Randall. Thank you for keeping us updated. It seems the Turks are doing well in the lighter classes but what about the Bulgarians? They have had some really strong lightweights in the past. I try not to get ahead of the reporting and want to skip to the heavyweight classes but it seems that this will be a strong predictor for the Olympics with the heavies.

Bill

[Randall Strossen]

Absolutely Randall. Thank you for keeping us updated. It seems the Turks are doing well in the lighter classes but what about the Bulgarians? They have had some really strong lightweights in the past. I try not to get ahead of the reporting and want to skip to the heavyweight classes but it seems that this will be a strong predictor for the Olympics with the heavies.

Bill

Bill -

Good deal.

The Bulgarians are rebuilding their program so they're not quite up to their traditional standards (two of the three world records in yesterday's men's 69-kg class are held by Bulgarians: Markov and Boevski). The Bulgarians elected not to pay their drug fine, so the team sat out international competition for two years and some have gone over to Azerbaijan (where they are coached by former top Bulgarian lifter Zlaten Vanev), so it might be a little while before we see them back at the top of the ladder.

The march up in size continues here, with the men's 77-kg class tonight—bigger guys, bigger weights and it should be another good one.

Stay tuned!

[igor heren]

69s:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVklpj843QI&feature=plcp&context=C4f6f576VDvjVQa1PpcFMS5sZVLi7CBP_reEez8iSQ ccidOePLG_Y=

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_lLFC6CuU8Q&feature=plcp&context=C49658f1VDvjVQa1PpcFMS5sZVLi7CBHi3vlxxszjB OCHozija3ok=

[Charis Louca]

Randy - mistake here mate.
http://www.ironmind.com/ironmind/opencms/Articles/2012/Apr/Sezer_Wins_the_62s.html

It's not Cypress, its Cyprus!
Great to see Dimitris representing my home country on the big stage, I can only hope to do that one day myself. I've trained with him a few times, he is VERY fast.

[Randall Strossen]

Randy - mistake here mate.
http://www.ironmind.com/ironmind/opencms/Articles/2012/Apr/Sezer_Wins_the_62s.html

It's not Cypress, its Cyprus!
Great to see Dimitris representing my home country on the big stage, I can only hope to do that one day myself. I've trained with him a few times, he is VERY fast.

Ha ha - shows how tired I was . . . thanks much—I'll fix it!

This guy did great we talked about him quite a bit on Eurosport. So is Sabanis the coach?

[Craig T. Covington]

69s:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVklpj843QI&feature=plcp&context=C4f6f576VDvjVQa1PpcFMS5sZVLi7CBP_reEez8iSQ ccidOePLG_Y=

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_lLFC6CuU8Q&feature=plcp&context=C49658f1VDvjVQa1PpcFMS5sZVLi7CBHi3vlxxszjB OCHozija3ok=

Igor,
I really enjoyed watching these videos. Thanks for posting them.:;st)

[igor heren]

You're welcome, Craig.

[Bill Crawford]

Really great coverage and the commentators are superb! Really is great to have Randall and Colin giving there expert opinion instead of a retired NFL player who knows nothing, literally nothing, about wieghtlifting. Keep them coming!

Bill

[neil patrick]

Yes, it's all exciting.I am looking forward to Benjaynon though as well as the super-freaks. Any rumors or rumblings of what kind of shape Steiner and Chigichev is in Randall?

[Charis Louca]

Ha ha - shows how tired I was . . . thanks much—I'll fix it!

This guy did great we talked about him quite a bit on Eurosport. So is Sabanis the coach?

Its great to hear about my little country and hometown on TV :)

No Sabanis is NOT the coach. He butted in at that point.
There is an agreement between Greece and Cyprus with weightlifting.
For a period of time of the year (its pretty much whenever they want to), the Cypriot team can train with the Greek team in Greece. Likewise, the Greek team can come and train in Cyprus, in Limassol. Minasides and Alex Amanatides, the 2 main Cyprus guys are based in Paphos, where there is also a training hall. The guy in the Cyprus blue shirt and looks like he has been left in the oven about 45 minutes too long, is the head Cyprus coach, he is Ananias as David Goldstrom said, and Amanatides' father.
The coaches in Greece and for the Greek team are Viktor Mitru, Leonidas Sabanis and Valerios Leonidis, amongst others. Mitrou is apparently the best coach, Sabanis and Leonidis are secondary, but they usually get sent to the meets, for one reason or another, I don't really know why. Sabanis was there coaching the Greek 62k lifter, and then when Minasides was doing well, he jumped in and insisted that he did 136 instead of 132 on the snatch (good for silver, instead of shooting to overtake the Turk's first attempt). Obviously the Cyprus coach was going to have him do 132 and secure a few more kilos and some silver, but Sabanis threw his weight and got it changed, and Dimitris missed.
There is no animosity, but there is sometimes an issue at these bigger meets it looks like (I haven't experienced it first hand, just what the guys have told me), as they are Cypriot athletes and the Cyprus coach looks after them for the majority of the year, and was their coach for the first 6-7 years of their career exclusively. However when the Greek Olympians jump in, they usually go for glory lifts, which usually mess up plans a little. Nothing major though, and I was really proud for Minasides to get some medals. Shame the stupid **** president of the Cyprus WF didn't fill in the WADA forms for the Worlds, so no Olympics slots for Cyprus :(
I don't think, anyway.

[Randall Strossen]

Really great coverage and the commentators are superb! Really is great to have Randall and Colin giving there expert opinion instead of a retired NFL player who knows nothing, literally nothing, about wieghtlifting. Keep them coming!

Bill


Bill -

The Brit with me is actually the (in)famous David Goldstrom (aka Goldie), the terror of TV commentators, so I had to give him some grief about this—he took the ribbing well and our friend Colin Bryce will be the BBC's voice of weightlifting in London so that will be a treat for everyone following their Olympic coverage.

[Randall Strossen]

Yes, it's all exciting.I am looking forward to Benjaynon though as well as the super-freaks. Any rumors or rumblings of what kind of shape Steiner and Chigichev is in Randall?

Neil -

Unfortunately, no Chigishev, but two other Russians. At lunch yesterday, Matthias Steiner told me that his results here are not so important, but I would be surprised if he did not win a medal. The German Olympic trials are in June, and by then I think we'll have a much better idea of what kind of shape Matthias will be in for London. Matthias said he weighed 140 kg and I thought he looked pretty trim for that weight.

[Randall Strossen]

Its great to hear about my little country and hometown on TV :)

No Sabanis is NOT the coach. He butted in at that point.
There is an agreement between Greece and Cyprus with weightlifting.
For a period of time of the year (its pretty much whenever they want to), the Cypriot team can train with the Greek team in Greece. Likewise, the Greek team can come and train in Cyprus, in Limassol. Minasides and Alex Amanatides, the 2 main Cyprus guys are based in Paphos, where there is also a training hall. The guy in the Cyprus blue shirt and looks like he has been left in the oven about 45 minutes too long, is the head Cyprus coach, he is Ananias as David Goldstrom said, and Amanatides' father.
The coaches in Greece and for the Greek team are Viktor Mitru, Leonidas Sabanis and Valerios Leonidis, amongst others. Mitrou is apparently the best coach, Sabanis and Leonidis are secondary, but they usually get sent to the meets, for one reason or another, I don't really know why. Sabanis was there coaching the Greek 62k lifter, and then when Minasides was doing well, he jumped in and insisted that he did 136 instead of 132 on the snatch (good for silver, instead of shooting to overtake the Turk's first attempt). Obviously the Cyprus coach was going to have him do 132 and secure a few more kilos and some silver, but Sabanis threw his weight and got it changed, and Dimitris missed.
There is no animosity, but there is sometimes an issue at these bigger meets it looks like (I haven't experienced it first hand, just what the guys have told me), as they are Cypriot athletes and the Cyprus coach looks after them for the majority of the year, and was their coach for the first 6-7 years of their career exclusively. However when the Greek Olympians jump in, they usually go for glory lifts, which usually mess up plans a little. Nothing major though, and I was really proud for Minasides to get some medals. Shame the stupid **** president of the Cyprus WF didn't fill in the WADA forms for the Worlds, so no Olympics slots for Cyprus :(
I don't think, anyway.


Charis -

Super interesting—many thanks for all this background.

You are a true fan of lifting!

[Charis Louca]

Thanks man, let me know if you want anything else, see if I can help.
In return, I sent you a PM!

[Bill Crawford]

Wow Randall, sorry for the mistake. I guess they all sound alike :). Colin had told me about his covering the London Games so I went on that premise for my mistake. Once again, corrected by the master. Thanks again for being there and keeping us tuned in.

Bill

[Bill Crawford]

Great photos of the 94's and thank you Randall for the update. Quick question. It appeared that 2 years ago that the split jerk was going the way of the dinosaurs but most of the Euro pics are of splits. The 94 kg WR holder is a power jerk/squat jerk specialist, so is that where the big numbers are? Also is this really only among Chinese/Asian lifters?

Bill

[Randall Strossen]

Great photos of the 94's and thank you Randall for the update. Quick question. It appeared that 2 years ago that the split jerk was going the way of the dinosaurs but most of the Euro pics are of splits. The 94 kg WR holder is a power jerk/squat jerk specialist, so is that where the big numbers are? Also is this really only among Chinese/Asian lifters?

Bill

Bill -

If a lifter has really strong, quick legs, a power jerk can work well, but while it gets the body lower (an advantage), squat jerks are more precarious overhead (a disadvantage) than split jerks and I would also argue that squat jerk are less forgiving in terms of body types that can execute them successfully.

So, will the level of competition force selection of only those who can squat jerk? I don't think so at least not in the near future, but we might see more lifters giving it a try.

[Bill Crawford]

Thanks Randall. Hope to hear about the 105's and Supers soon as well.

Bill

[Randall Strossen]

Anyone have any thoughts on either the 105s or the supers at the Olympics after seeing the Europeans?

I go the Asian Weightlifting Championships in about a week, so it will be interesting to compare those results to the Europeans.

[neil patrick]

I don't want to be a debbie downer but I wasn't too happy with the performances of the 105kg class and the 105+ class.David B. in the 105kg only produced a 405kg. that will not scare Klokov or Akkaev-I was hoping he would hit around 430kg.The super's didn't produce any impressive numbers-Salimi would be opening well beyond everybody's finishing weights.You might be able to articulate the mindset of athletes and coaches leading up to the Olympics better than I though, Randall.Was that the last major competition for all the European's before the Olympics?

[Randall Strossen]

I don't want to be a debbie downer but I wasn't too happy with the performances of the 105kg class and the 105+ class.David B. in the 105kg only produced a 405kg. that will not scare Klokov or Akkaev-I was hoping he would hit around 430kg.The super's didn't produce any impressive numbers-Salimi would be opening well beyond everybody's finishing weights.You might be able to articulate the mindset of athletes and coaches leading up to the Olympics better than I though, Randall.Was that the last major competition for all the European's before the Olympics?

Neil -

I was kind of impressed that David B. went for the 239, but it wasn't close—his opener (220) might have been 100 kg for how easy it looked.

The supers were a huge letdown, but without Chigishev being healthy or Lapikov living up to what people hoped for, the Russians aren't going to have a super with a big total in London.

I mentioned something quickly on Eurosport about Steiner's numbers in the 2008 Europeans compared to this year—if people think he pulled a rabbit out of hat for the Beijing Olympics, it would be more like an elephant for London!

The Russians still have an Olympic Trials, to held in May I think.

I'm sticking with Akkaev to win the gold medal in London—how about you?

[igor heren]

I don't want to be a debbie downer but I wasn't too happy with the performances of the 105kg class and the 105+ class.David B. in the 105kg only produced a 405kg. that will not scare Klokov or Akkaev-I was hoping he would hit around 430kg.The super's didn't produce any impressive numbers-Salimi would be opening well beyond everybody's finishing weights.You might be able to articulate the mindset of athletes and coaches leading up to the Olympics better than I though, Randall.Was that the last major competition for all the European's before the Olympics?

Akkaev, 240 C&J in training:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w86ec_W_NnI&feature=player_embedded

[Erick Brown]

Like just another day at the office.

[neil patrick]

I agree Randall, Akkaev looks really solid.I'm sure he can total 430kg+ if he needs to.Lapikov is a superheavy now?Asian championships next?Those Russian Olympic trials sound exciting-Is that something you will be going to Randall?(eurosport)

[Randall Strossen]

I agree Randall, Akkaev looks really solid.I'm sure he can total 430kg+ if he needs to.Lapikov is a superheavy now?Asian championships next?Those Russian Olympic trials sound exciting-Is that something you will be going to Randall?(eurosport)

Neil -

Yes, Lapikov moved up to +105:

http://www.ironmind.com/ironmind/opencms/Articles/2010/Apr/Super_Size_Russian_Weightlifter_Dmitry_Lapikov.htm l

but what he did at the Europeans last year wasn't exactly impressive. He's now weighing about 125 kg I heard and has snatched, I think, 210 in training and c&jed 240 or 245. Maybe Igor can find these lifts on YouTube? :)

They would be very interesting but I won't be going to the Russian Olympic Trials. I am slated to go the German Olympic Trials, and, of course, next week's Asian Weightlifting Championships, which could be a real eye opener.

[neil patrick]

You are a lucky man Randall-but I'm sure it took alot of hard work to get to experience all of this.Can't wait to hear about Asian championships.Will that be on Eurosport? Thank you for the info.

[igor heren]

-105 and +105 categories:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_TYMaoKC_M&feature=plcp&context=C4ac4bf6VDvjVQa1PpcFMS5sZVLi7CBP_reEez8iSQ ccidOePLG_Y=

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ICsBxEemTE&feature=plcp&context=C45b5337VDvjVQa1PpcFMS5sZVLi7CBHi3vlxxszjB OCHozija3ok=

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PF2PzZT8oA&feature=plcp&context=C489da5cVDvjVQa1PpcFMS5sZVLi7CBJGJVEe6uotu tjQTXMrAeIU=

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FbLrnENvdvk&feature=plcp&context=C42d9860VDvjVQa1PpcFMS5sZVLi7CBPHOpUB3lNdd rzsdEXcC38c=

[Joe Keenan]

Thanks for the links Igor!

Randy, nice announcing! Your fellow announcer seemed a little slow picking up on you, "picking your parents" joke. I guess it's true the English lack a sense of humor.:;cl)

[Randall Strossen]

Thanks for the links Igor!

Randy, nice announcing! Your fellow announcer seemed a little slow picking up on you, "picking your parents" joke. I guess it's true the English lack a sense of humor.:;cl)


:;lh) Thanks much!

[igor heren]

62 kg:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7vdMlkej_E&feature=plcp&context=C4952c0dVDvjVQa1PpcFMS5sZVLi7CBP_reEez8iSQ ccidOePLG_Y=

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGMPk0VSmpc&feature=plcp&context=C4b3cdc9VDvjVQa1PpcFMS5sZVLi7CBHi3vlxxszjB OCHozija3ok=