The representative of power sports Mikhail Koklyaev on Saturday, February 13, spoke about the achievements of the Olympic champion in weightlifting Yuri Vlasov, whose death became known earlier that day.
Koklyaev described Vlasov as a great man who “in word and deed inscribed himself in the history of world sports”.
“We have lost a chunk and layer of real courage. This is the man who lifted 202.5 kg from the floor over his head for the first time at the Olympics. This is a man who was the first chairman of the athletic federation back in the Union. A bright person, very literate. Yuri Petrovich was a diplomat, because big strong people are not politicians, but diplomats, ”the REN TV channel quotes Koklyaev.
The athlete expressed regret that he did not have a chance to meet with Vlasov.
The head coach of the Russian men’s national weightlifting team, Alexander Venkov, in turn, noted that Vlasov was a legend of Soviet sports and could boast of achievements that few people succeeded in.
“This is a legend. Another legend is gone from Soviet sports. Olympic champion. Was the standard bearer of the USSR national team. In one hand he could carry a flag, which weighed a lot. Few have succeeded in this, ”Venkov said in an interview with REN TV.
Koklyaev announced the death of Vlasov earlier that day. According to him, the Olympic champion passed away on Saturday morning. The farewell ceremony for the athlete is scheduled for February 16. It will take place in the temple of the Botkin Hospital in Moscow.
Yuri Vlasov was born on December 5, 1935. In 1960, he became an Olympic champion, and took silver at the Games in 1964. Vlasov is also a four-time world champion and six-time European champion. The athlete set 41 USSR records and 31 world records.