Alexey Vakhonin

:: 3/3/2008: Geoff Fleming, Union N.J., U.S.A.
Alexei Vakhonin was a friend and pupil of Rudy Plukfelder. Both men competed at the Tokyo Olympic Games in 1964 and Vakhonin holds the honor of becoming the first gold medalist of the entire Games, ( all sports). He went on to win world titles until his retirement in 1968. The famous photo of him standing on one leg with the winning lift of 142.5kg, ( 56.kg), appeared in U.S. newspapers..a rarity for weightlifters in the 60s! His early death was due to an accident while working on the roof of his home.

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