Bulgaria, Bulgaria, Bulgaria: Markov, Vanev and Dobrev Win
by Randall J. Strossen, IronMind Enterprises, Inc. © 2003
LOUTRAKI, GREECE – Continuing their winning ways, the Bulgarian team won three more classes at the European Weightlifting Championships.
In the 85-kg category, Zlaten Vanev was fifth after the snatches today, with 167.5 kg, but that's not much of a hole for him.
Vanev opened with 210 kg in the clean and jerk, for an easy success, and won the gold medals in the jerk and total with his second attempt, a never-in-doubt 215-kg lift. Instead of passing on his third attempt, Vanev called for a world record 218.5 kg, and was so relaxed about the attempt, he was talking on his cell phone just before coming out.
It would have been a great lift, but it wasn't to be today, as he missed the clean.
Later today, in the 94-kg category, Milen Dobrev won the gold in the snatch with three excellent attempts: 175, 180 and 182.5 kg. Dobrev stayed on his roll in the clean and jerk, opening with a good lift at 215 kg, and then won the gold medals in the jerk and total on his second attempt with 217.5 kg. Not ready to stop there, he took 222.5 kg on his third attempt, for another good lift.
Yesterday, Georgi Markov held off a determined Reyhan Arabacioglu (Turkey), to win the 77-kg category via a 165-kg snatch and a 202.5-kg clean and jerk.