Weightlifting stopped being an exclusively masculine sport some 20 years ago. The first women’s weightlifting competition was held in 1983, and since 1987 yearly women’s World Championships have been held. Weightlifting became an Olympic sport in 2000. Russian sportsmen and sport officials told the journalists about Russian athletes’ results in the recent European Championship hosted by Antalia and about their prospects for the London Olympics.
Sergey Syrtsov, President of the Russian Weightlifting Federation
From April 6-16 a European Championship – the 91th men's and the 25th women's championship was held in Turkey. At the European Championship the team of Russia was presented altogether. At the women's championship, there were participants from 26 countries and 110 athletes. In the men's championship 34 countries and 165 athletes participated. As a result of the European Championship the Russian men's team in the medal standings won 6 gold, 3 silver and 2 bronze medals. Russia has left behind such countries as Azerbaijan and the host of the championship - Turkey. The Azerbaijanis have 5 gold and 1 bronze medal, and our opponents from Turkey - 3 gold, 3 silver and 2 bronze medals. As for the female part of the championship, Russia also stood on the highest step of the podium: 8 gold, 4 silver and 8 bronze medals. The second place was given to Turkey (3 gold, 4 silver and 5 bronze medals) and the team of Poland (3 gold and 1 silver medals).
In general, Russian Weightlifting Federation evaluates these presentations as satisfactory, because in the last championship, which took place in Turkey, the Russian team was represented not only by a smaller number - eight men and seven women. Two of them, Oksana Slivenko and Tatiana Kashirina, once again proved their status at the European platform, won with wonderfully raised pounds and continue to prepare for the Championship of Russia. As for the men, then a representative in the up to 69 kg category, Oleg Chen, who won second place last year at the World Championship in Paris, was leading by a wide margin after the first exercise, but unfortunately injured himself in the second exercise, and this injury did not allow him to fight and lift the pounds that were needed to win the European Championship.
David Riegert, head coach of Russia for weightlifting
Among the men almost 90% of the team are people who for the first time performed as members of the national team of Russia. I am talking about David Bejanyan, who is present here, a debutant of the national team, who became champion. In the category of over 105 kg Ruslan Albegov became the champion of Europe. We were very worried about him, because at the last stage of preparation he did not feel well, and there was a question of whether or not he should go to the championship. But by the beginning he recovered and decently realized 100% of his capacities and became champion of Europe. As Sergei Alexandrovich has already said, we have made big bets on Oleg Chen, and his task at this championship was to show his development so that he could continue preparing for the Olympics as a member of the team, but unfortunately an unexpected injury at the second exercise during the first set has not left him any opportunities. But with a huge margin (13 kg) he was in the lead, and would be virtually invincible, even if he had started with a smaller weight. But an injury is an injury - it always appears suddenly and nothing can fix it once it is done. In some categories, for instance in the category of 94 kg, a good performance was demonstrated by debutant Aslambek Badeyev, he came third. And Roman Hamatshin, he is not new, but this time he did not have enough luck and he was left out of the list of championship winners. The category of 105 kg is our own category, where we have been for a number of times world champions and Olympic medalists. This time, we showed great success in this category: we have first and second places, and we took all the possible golds and silvers. In the category of over 105 kg was presented Albegov and one more athlete, an athlete from Kursk, Andrei Kozlov, who was strong and on the eve of the championship was considered a leader, but apparently he has burned out. According to preliminary results he was an obvious leader, but it prevented him from having enough sleep, he simply "had burned out". It is very hard to bear that burden, especially as a young man, who rarely gets such luck - to play for one's country. It is hard to sustain the burden of a "virtual medal", which is still not there, but which he might get. And literally overnight before the beginning he burned out, he lost about three kg and was fourth in the end.
As a result, we were first regarding the medals. Concerning the point standings, which is not quoted differently by us, we came second. As for my evaluation of performance, I would say that on a scale of 5 points we were somewhere around 3.5, closer to four. On the scale of 2 points, that is "satisfactory" and "unsatisfactory" ... Well, since we have won, it means "satisfactory", although there is still something to think about. At the moment we are preparing for the Championship of Russia, which will host the final stage of selection. From May 28 to June 6 the Saransk Russian Championship will be held, all the strongest athletes of the country will be performing there, they are preparing intensively at the moment, and one team will be selected and half of the athletes who will be training for the Olympics.
David Bejanyan, weightlifter
It was my first performance, but before that I went to Europe for junior championships twice, and for youth championships. The performance at the adult championship turned out well. Regarding the performance: the sets were not as successful, but the first set was enough to win.
Olga Zubova, weightlifter
It was my first performance, and it was very scary. I am 17 years old, and I will try to reach great heights, but for the first time, I think it is good that I took the first place.
Tatiana Kashirina, Honored Master of Sports in weightlifting
I'm happy with the performance, it was satisfactory, but again not everything turned out as we planned during sets. But I improved the world record. One needs one's own objectives and in order to achieve them it takes time and work. We are already working, yesterday we started training for the next competition.
Oksana Slivenko, Honored Master of Sports in weightlifting
Our and our coach's goal is mostly to try to compete at each championship. During this season we tried to present at all the competitions, because it is important for us. The result that I have demonstrated at these competitions, I had already repeatedly demonstrated, but because after the World Championship in Paris there was not much time, it was not possible to greatly add weight, there was no time to gain a good shape. We are not going to rest for a long time and practically will not have any rest, we are almost immediately starting to train and will hope to win in the future.
Anna Leschikova, executive director of the All-Russian Association of Summer Olympic Sports
The Association of Summer Olympic sports, after negotiations with federations and identifications of weak points, has decided to organize a series of press conferences with federations particularly in order to attract attention, so that one could talk about the state of sports not only when the Olympics take place, but even before the Games, and during some fairly long period of time. I think this is one of the responsibilities and functions of the association, which positions itself as a kind of professional sports lobby, which can act as a structure, which helps federations in several directions, including contacts with the media.
