For dessert – the heaviest athletes: $16,000. Russia had the most money
Russian President’s Cup ended with a victory of the national team of Russia
On the final day of the 6th Russian President's Weightlifting Cup, which ended on 20 March in Ak Bars Single Combat Palace, the heaviest weightlifters appeared on to the platform. Realnoe Vremya tells about the details of the outcome of the prestigious tournament.
If you think that weightlifters in women's 75+ kg look massive, you are mistaken. Appeared on the platform the first Russian athlete, a 23-year-old Yekaterina Yutvolina from Krasnodar, looked very nice despite her weight. If you see such a beauty on the street – she is eye-catching! The Most High did not create such a bright girl for a barbell. But she failed her two attempts in the snatch, she could not lift 93 kg, but third time lucky – the third attempt was successful!
Armenian evening in Kazan
A brunette, a 22-year-old Russian athlete Lyaysan Makhiyanova, was the next competitor after the blonde. A girl who has such an impressing bust should not lift the barbell but successfully lifted 95 kg. In her second attempt, she lifted 98 kg without any effort, then she was going to make 99 but changed her mind – once you decided, do the best – 101! She did it! An Armenian participant HripsimeKhurshudyan, who is, by the way, a bronze medalist of the Olympic Games in 2012, was the third and the last competitor in this weight division. She lifted 102 kg from the very beginning! It is correct, her weight is 88, and she is 27, that is to say, older than the Russian girls. But our girls are more beautiful but not stronger: the Armenian athlete successfully performed and lifted 110 in the second and 111 in the third attempts. It was clear from the start who was the leader.
Clean and jerk time. Makhiyanova easily lifted 115. Yutvolina started with 117, done. Makhiyanova lifted 120 at the second attempt, Yutvolina ordered 123 and lifted the weight with an effort. Khurshudyan came out – 130 easily, so, she probably had $5,000 in her pocket. Yutvolina had the last word. She ordered 128, then 135 – but, unfortunately, did not lift the weight. The Armenian athlete made 136 with an Olympic calmness and reasonably refused the third attempt – health is more important. As a result, Khurshudyan took the first place – 246 kg in total, Makhiyanova was the silver medalist – 228 kg, and Yutvolina took the bronze medal – 2016. Everybody was pleased and awarded medals and prize money.
Hripsime Khurshudyan: 'I carry my husband and son in my arms'
The Armenian champion speaks bad Russian, but we managed to talk and found out a number of details of her sports and personal life…
Is it difficult to compete knowing that you have only two young girls as rivals?
No, why should it be difficult? Yes, I'm older and more experienced, but we are all on the same platform. The number of participants – no matter, a competition is a competition, especially an international one! I am very glad about the victory in Russian President's Cup, even happy. And the prize money is not extra.
Hripsime Khurshudyan: 'Yes, I'm older and more experienced, but we are all on the same platform. The number of participants – no matter, a competition is a competition, especially an international one!' Photo: sport.mediamax.am
So, it is supposed that you won't have problems with you Olympic licence. Right?
I hope, it is my fourth tournament in the season but the first win. I have a small kid, I will make him happy, it is a present for him…
Do you lift him and his father without problems?
Easily!
Will you be able to improve your achievement of London, where you won the bronze?
I hope so.
The men's parade of the final category was impressive – especially Chingiz Mogushkov (195 kg), the only representative of our country in this weight division! American Donovan Ford weighed 108 kg. It is clear that all nine participants ordered different weights at their first attempts: 152, 182. Men suffer. Jason Starks dropped out of the competition, who failed all three attempts and could not lift neither 154 nor 155 kg. He was the aqsaqal of the competition, he is 36. Looking at the compatriot, Ford also could not perform his two first attempts successfully but lifted 160 at the third attempt. The bulls ended the snatch with the following results: Ruben Aleksanyan from Armenia (189 kg) was the first, Peter Nagy from Hungary (188 kg) was the second, and Mogushkov (182 kg) won the bronze medal. A serious fight broke out. It is enough to say that there were 13 successful and 14 unsuccessful attempts!
Unlucky Starks started first and lifted 190 kg, which was his first and last lucky attempt! A tactical fight, change of the weight ordered and missed attempts began. Having lifted 232, the leader Aleksanyan made his rival sad from the very beginning. Meanwhile, Moguskhin did not lift this weight even at the second attempt. He ordered 240 at the last attempt – but failed again. Aleksanyan ordered 241 and did it! Jirzi Orsaga from the Czech Republic and Aleksanyan had the last attempts. The Czech athlete did not lift 241 kg, so the Armenian was inapproachable. He ordered 242, then decided to save his health and refused. The curtain was brought down. Aleksanyan won the gold medal and had 430 kg in total (Editor's Note: compare, the world record is 475 kg), Nagy was the second (421 kg), Orsag (414 kg) won the bronze, Mogushkov took the fourth place (402 kg).
Ruben Aleksanyan: 'The more intense the competition, the more interesting'
The winner of the heaviest weight division Armenian weightlifter Ruben Aleksanyan continued the victorious steps of his compatriot Khurshudyan. Ruben is convinced that weightlifting is the most popular sport in Armenia.
What is more popular in Armenia: weightlifting or football?
Weightlifting, of course! It was so. And the results of Russian President's Cup prove it! We performed well.
What is the importance of the Kazan tournament taking into account the perspective of the Olympic Rio?
It has been my first international start in 2016. There will be another one in 20 days, the European Championship, but I already have the Olympic licence. It has been my first performance in Russia President's Cup, and I'm very glad about the victory.
There was a serious competition in your weight division…
It is normal. The more intense the competitions, the more pleasant to win!
The national team of Russia took the team cup for the victory in the tournament. Speaking as business people, our weightlifters earned $16,000 of prize money, Armenia – $10,000, USA – $6,000, Poland and Canada $5,000, Hungary – $3,000, the Czech Republic – $2,000.