1983 Record Makers IV | Allentown Pennsylvania | Snatch

„This was the first time most of us had seen or even heard of Naim Suleimanov (BUL), but it would obviously not be the last. The 16 year old prodigy set senior world records in the c&j and total. That’s insane for a 16 year old, but of course Naim was no ordinary teenager and eventually became the greatest lifter of all time. Lifting in the 56kg class, Naim snatched 117,5, followed by 125 (which was a junior wr.) and then missed a senior world record of 127,5 on his third and subsequent fourth attempt. 60kg world champion Yurik Sarkisyan (USSR) was overweight and lifted in the 67,5 class. He snatched 125 easily but missed 130 twice. In the 75kg class was Yanko Rusev (BUL), one of the superstars of the day with five consecutive world titles. Rusev wasn’t in top shape but still made some decent lifts. He snatched 145, 150, then 155 for his third. Asen Zlatev (BUL) had done 180 220 to winning the 82,5 class at the 1982 worlds, but was clearly not in top shape here. He snatched 160 and 165 but missed 170. After the miss, a bulgarian official on the Jury was heard to quip, “Zlatev tourista.“ It was a different story in the 90kg class. Blagoy Blagoev (BUL) was the sole entrant and was in very good shape. He had beaten Vardanyan at the 1982 Worlds and on a formula basis was currently the best lifter in the world. He flipped up his snatch opener of 180 like nothing, followed by another easy success with 185. His third attempt of 190 was locked out but lost behind. In the 100kg class, we had four lifters: Viktor Sots (USSR), Peter Baczakó (HUN), Ken Clark (USA) and Rich Shanko (USA). Shanko was first out in the snatch with 150 and, as it turned out it was his only success of the day. He twice missed 157,5 and incurred a slight injury, so wisely dropped out, with the US Nationals coming up. His teammate Ken Clark, on the other hand, had a super day. Ken made all three snatches, finishing with 160. Peter Baczakó, the 1980 Olympic champ at 90kg, was a crowd favorite, making all three snatches and finishing with a perfect 170. But despite this fine lifting, there was really no doubt who the eventual winner would be: 1981 & 1982 world champion Viktor Sots. Like some other entrants, Sots was not in top shape, but he was still good enough to win easily. He snatched 175, but then had some trouble with 182,5 which wasn’t quite in the groove. He sat extra long in the low position until he gained control and then stood for a good lift. But on his third with 187,5, he could only Clark it. We had two soviet entrants in the 110kg category, Sergei Arakelov and Leonid Taranenko. Arakelov, the reigning world champ, was in terrible shape. Not only did he not lift like Arakelov, he didn’t even look like Arakelov. He had lost much of the impressive muscle he had at the 1982 Worlds, where he had done 190 237,5. Taranenko, on the other hand was in very good shape. The 1980 Olympic champ at 110, he still hadn’t yet moved up to 110. Arakelov snatched 165 and 170, before being called for time with 175. He dawdled endlessly trying to psyche himself up but couldn’t bring himself to lift, perhaps knowing it was out of reach. Taranenko started with 185 and made it easily in his very low style. Brimming with confidence he then moved right up to a world record 197,5, but missed it twice. We had three entrants in the superheavyweight class: Anatoly Pisarenko (USSR), Antonio Krastev (BUL) and Mario Martinez (USA). Pisarenko had won the 1982 Worlds and was currently the unofficial strongest man in the world. But Krastev had pushed him at the worlds and finished a strong second. Mario Martinez was reigning US National Champion and was in very good shape. Unfortunately Krastev, like some other entrants, wasn’t in good shape. But Pisarenko was in great shape, as we shall see. Martinez ripped up his opening snatch of 177,5 like nothing and then went right to an american record 183,5. He nailed it for a solid success, and not satisfied, asked for another american record of 185. He nearly made it but it was a tad out of the groove, and while fighting it, Mario incurred a slight elbow injury. Like Shanko, he called it a day, not wanting to jeopardize his chances at the US Nationals and a chance at making the US team at the worlds. Krastev snatched 190, ten kilos less than at the worlds. No matter. Everyone had come to see Pisarenko and he did not disappoint. Weighing only about 123 kg, he exhibited his tremendous pulling power by ripping up opening snatch of 195. He then moved right up to a world record 205. On his 2nd, 3rd, and subsequent 4th attempt, he pulled it to arms length, but somehow missed them all forward. He really looked strong enough to do three singles with this weight. Pisarenko was aware he tends to lose snatches forward, so when he stepped on the platform, he always rolled the bar to the very rear, in case he had to run forward.” source: Bruce Klemens