See Also: Alekseyev, Vasiliy(encyclopedia)

Alekseyev, Vasiliy (sh)




born Jan. 7, 1942, Pokrovo-Shishkino, Russia, U.S.S.R.

Soviet weight lifter.

A superheavyweight, he broke 80 world records between 1970 and 1978 and won Olympic gold medals in 1972 and 1976. He was the first man ever to lift more than 500 lbs (227 kg) in the clean and jerk. He retired after failing to win a third gold medal in the 1980 Olympics.