This unique rivalry on the Olympic platform will be called the "Battle of the Titans." Historians of weightlifting even today consider the competition of two weightlifters at the Tokyo Olympics as the most interesting weightlifting fight in the entire 20th century. There were no analogs of this iron duel and there are none.
Journalists, critics and fans predicted an unprecedented battle for the title of champion between Yuri Vlasov, Norbert Shemansky, Garry Gubner and Leonid Zhabotinsky.
1 stage "Pressing". Garry Gubner, also a debutant at the Olympiad, like Zhabotinsky, was the first to leave the podium. Like Zhabotinsky, he had competed in the shot put for several years before, the barbell was just a hobby for Harry. Before he was engaged in weightlifting, he already seriously squeezed 180 kg and gained 500 kg. But alas, Gubner did not manage to squeeze more than 175 kg at the Olympics. He was followed by Norbert Shemansky. Shemansky was an example for Leonid Zhabotinsky in the technique of the bench press (a technically very difficult exercise, the American performed it perfectly). In the first exercise, he lifts 180 kg, and in the third exercise, 187.5 kg. Yury Vlasov, who easily lifted 187.5 kg, is on the podium. And on the second campaign, he squeezed 192.5 kg. It was Jabotinsky's turn. He took 180 kg on the first approach, and 167.5 kg on the second. The third request turned out to be unsuccessful - the bar fell on the platform. From the third request, Vlasov takes 197.5 kg - the weight of the world record. At this stage, he was ahead of Zhabotinsky by 10 kg, Shemansky by 17.5 kg
2 stage "Jerk". Shemansky showed a result of 165 kg. Zhabotinsky - took 160 kg, and Vlasov ordered 162.5 kg and did not take the weight, he fell on the platform together with the barbell. In the second approach, Leonid lifted 167.5 kg, Yuri Vlasov again failed the request and scored zero. The third request and Vlasov still managed. Leonid Zhabotinsky made a third attempt, but it turned out to be unsuccessful - a sharp pain in his shoulder pierced him (2 days before the competition, he tore the front bundles of the deltoid muscle, and the doctor made a novocaine blockade so that the athlete could participate in the competition).
At this time, Vlasov announces an additional approach to breaking the world record and as a result takes 172.5 kg, exceeding his own world record by 2 kg, but the record result did not enter the qualifying amount. Now everything was decided only by Shimansky's push.
3 stage "Push" In the last approach, Shemansky took 192.5 kg, scored 537.5 kg and received a bronze medal. Next, the fight for prize seats flared up between Vlasov and Zhabotinsky. Zhabotinsky started with 200 kg, and Vlasov with 205 kg. Yuri gained 565 kg in the all-around, but he had one request left. Leonid had a result of 550 kg with the remaining two requests, in fact he only needed one winning barbell. Zhabotinsky and Vlasov ordered 210 kg each. Both could not take the weight. Jabotynskyi has the third approach left and he decides to take 217.5 kg. He climbed onto the platform, took hold of the barbell and lifted the record weight! Crazy effort - and victory
The hall froze, and then there was an unexpected shout from coach Zhabotinsky: "He's the Olympic champion!" and petrified Vlasov, who even a minute ago thought that the gold belonged to him. Thus, Zhabotinsky gained 572.5 kg in the triathlon and became the Olympic champion. It was an amazing Triumph, everyone applauded the new idol. Zhabotinsky, Vlasov and Shamansky rose to the podium - the three winners.
This unique rivalry on the Olympic platform will be called the "Clash of the Titans" Historians of weightlifting even today consider the competition of two weightlifters at the Tokyo Olympics as the most interesting weightlifting fight in the entire 20th century. There were no analogs of this iron duel and there are none.
