Vasily Alekseyev | Strength History Minute

Vasily Alekseyev, a Superheavyweight Weightlifter for the Soviet Union, is one of the most accomplished lifters of all-time. Alekseyev and his incredible red singlet was a 2x Olympic Gold Medalist and 8x World Champion.

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[BonyFingers]

Growing up as a teen in the 60's and into the 70's Vasily was the here of this sport I'm Canadian but It didn't mater
When Vasily was on TV we were always there rooting for him

[hlcepeda]

In 1972 thru 1976, the US didn't really have (yet) any serious contenders that could compete against Alekseyev. He was just too damn good, and it got to the point where you could tell that even the US sports commentators were pulling for him. Even I was pulling for him. I recall that his 'technique' included standing at the weights, with his head slightly tilted back, his eyes closed, and he shaking his arms at his sides a bit... as if to loosen them up; he took his time at it too. Zen. It was his 'head-game'; to this day I think he was doing the lift in his head before attacking the weights. So much fun watching his lifts!

[drewhunkins]

One of the strongest human beings ever to walk the face of the earth.

[WeymanThompson]

God he was a BEAST. Loved watching him compete

[scorpleeon]

So remember watching him during the Olympics. My childhood! 😮

[edwardcarrizo]

Vasily is the best superheavy wheight un the history

[zacktelander]

Something is wrong with YouTube. JTS has 191k subs and these minute long videos get shit for views. These are awesome by the way.

[dougp]

I remember The Mighty Aleksi when I was a little kid he was just amazing

[MatthewBuntyn]

I heard that his records could have been higher, but since he got a bonus for each one that he broke, he intentionally held back so that he could earn more money

[pelvur]

He was also the first to implement hyperextensions in his training (it was first to recover from the injury).

[barringtonsmith]

Remember watching him lifting at the Olympics, and the commentator saying the words, "AND THE BAR BENDS"

[armanderuni]

Alexeev was Legendary in the Weightlifting ✨✨, He is still the strongest man in the World 🌎

[bertybertface]

I hope soon they give these videos a little restoration, it must have been shot on film so the negs are somewhere.

[MrAvoutour]

Can we discuss what's going on with the belt at 0:19 lol

[Vorko]

Will there be one for Chemerkin? Taranenko?

[Michael-pfwe]

I wish the USSR competed in the early Worlds Strong Man competitions.

[nicholasschroeder]

No one ever talks about his narrow stance

[SteffiReitsch]

He wasn't much to look at with that big belly, but he was awfully strong.