Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed his condolences to the family and friends of Olympic weightlifting champion Yuri Vlasov, who died on February 13 at the age of 86. The telegram of the head of state was published on Tuesday, February 16, on the Kremlin’s website.
“Yuri Vlasov was a renowned athlete, Olympic champion, strong, strong-willed, purposeful person,” the president noted.
He also emphasized that “exceptional diligence and dedication allowed him to brilliantly realize his extraordinary potential, write bright, truly legendary pages in the history of national and world weightlifting, and do a lot in the public arena.”
The death of Vlasov was announced by the representative of power sports Mikhail Koklyaev on Saturday, February 13. 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 was also a four-time world champion and six-time European champion. The athlete set 41 USSR records and 31 world records.