The Best Athlete in Weightlifting | Yurik Vardanyan

43 World Records, 406.5kg total at 82.5kg, 10.6s 100m, 2.15 3-step high jump... Yurik Vardanyan is THE athlete in weightlifting.

Yurik Sequence Poster

The Greatest Weightlifters

00:00 The Greatest Athlete In Weightlifting
01:20 Athletic Feats
02:45 Early Years
03:28 First Years as a Senior
04:28 The Story of 400
07:06 1980 Olympics
08:18 Battling Blagoev & Zlatev
11:50 His Best Performance ('84)
16:35 Clean & Jerking His Front Squat
18:32 Yurik vs USSR
19:30 The Best Story In Weightlifting

[wesdiaz]

"Most of you listening probably assume that the best of Yurik had been and gone...that he had wrung the water from the stone--but he hadn't. Greatness is, indeed, measured by the height of the peak, but legends are measured by the number of peaks--by the size of the mountain range."

Take a bow, Seb. Always knew you were a poet, but you've outdone yourself here.

[aviationworld]

Growing up behind the iron curtain as native Armenian in 70s and 80s he was an iconic legend we all looked up to him and wanted to be like him. Thank you for this wonderful video and biography of Yurik Vardanya. I truly enjoy watching.

[loganjmcmahon]

Seb, this work is epic. If this doesn’t motivate someone to lift I don’t know what will. You and your team did a fantastic job on this!

[winanderson]

One of my original weightlifting heroes. Amazing replays. Fantastic tribute to the second greatest Sinclair of all time and one of the best athletes the world has ever seen.

[GS-zhuy]

A true hero and inspiration for all Armenians 🇦🇲

[timothyhays]

My lifting coach had Yurik's sequence posted in our gym to show proper technique. My coach was Istvan Javorek. .

[julianphillips]

Fantastic job Weightlifting House. Keep it up.

[troyb]

You should do one on Yury Zakharevich. He may not be the goat by Sinclair or total, but his records of 210/250.5/455 as a non super aren’t talked about enough

[nickcovino]

This was the best one yet!!! Love the story at the end. I got chills!

[vagramovakimyan]

Thank you for the video. Felt nostalgic. I remember his triumph at Moscow olympics. True LEGEND!

[kwwillson]

I can’t thank you enough for the work that you have put in to these documentaries. You shed light on things we would have never known and are keeping the history of our (fragile) sport alive. All of this makes me want to be a better person and lifter. Thanks dude.

[r.europa.m.canada.]

Один из сильным Один из любимым один из техничным Штангистом был он в Мире-Таких долго не будет ещё. Жал что так рано ушёл из жизнь 62 года. Пусть земля будет для тебя пухом-Юрик Варданян. Он был старше меня на три года. /1956-1959

[higherresolution]

So fascinating a documentary. This man has, or had, a mindset and belief in himself that is unparalleled. His training, including mental training, including great talent in many other sports, makes him virtually unique.

Much gratitude for the great job in making this video. What a shame that he died at the early age of 62. What a shame that he missed three Olympic competitions! Learning about him will change my life.

[nickcustodi]

This mans technique is just a thing of beauty

[ConnRDR]

Just like Naim - a weightlifting household name, but one that I knew nothing about. These videos are top drawer.

[doncoates]

Superb Seb! I was lucky enough to watch his battle with Zlatev at the worlds in Moscow in 1983. Incredible vocal and partisan support from Armenian contingent. Great days! You should do Rigert - a fantastic lifter and character.

[TomLaios]

Thank you, thank you, thank you! Keep the content coming. Vardanian was THE MAN! when I started in 1983.I appreciate the love these weightlifting legends are getting.

[chasetorres]

This is incredible - thank you for this. Would also love to see you do an interview with his son Norik discussing his father's training programming.

[DidYaServe]

That old mantra about front squatting for 3 = cleaning; it is wise. I've lifted for years without a rack, doing cleans into front squats. Builds great strength whilst remaining mobile and flexible. Yurik's 1 front squat = a clean; is beast mentality.

[ryanohara]

Absolutely brilliant video, thank you from us all! -Ryan