Andon Nikolov

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Nikolov (2018)

Andon Nikolov ( Bulgarian Андон Николов , English transcription Andon Nikolov ; born June 15, 1951 ) is a former Bulgarian weightlifter and functionary . He was an Olympic middle heavyweight in 1972.

Career

Andon Nikolow was discovered for weightlifting at the beginning of the 1970s in the course of a large talent search and promotion program initiated by the head coach Ivan Abajiev , who had been in office since 1969 . These young lifters found their economic backing by being accepted into the Bulgarian People's Army, but were able to devote themselves fully to training.

The 1.82 meter tall athlete was rather too tall for middle heavyweight, the weight class in which he competed throughout his career. Nevertheless, it managed well and, because of its size, looked extremely elegant, especially when it was torn.

He completed his first competition on the international weightlifting stage at the Danube Cup junior tournament in Vienna in 1971 . He reached there in the middle heavyweight in the Olympic three-way fight 420 kg (140-130-150) and won over the Romanian Mate, who came to 390 kg. At the senior Danube Cup tournament in Budapest in 1972, he already increased to 500 kg (165-150-185) and was already among the world's best. He defeated u in this competition. a. the former world champion Győző Veres from Hungary , who reached 477.5 kg.

At the 1972 European Championships in Constanța , Andon Nikolow increased to 525 kg (182.5-152.5-190) in the Olympic three-way battle and was 557.5 kg (185-165-207.5) behind David Rigert from the USSR . and his young compatriot Atanas Schopow , 527.5 kg (177.5-147.5-202.5) took 3rd place. At the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich , these three lifters were favorites to win medals because of their preliminary work, with David Rigert being the absolute favorite to win the gold medal. But it turned out differently, because David Rigert made three failed attempts in the tear and thus did not achieve a three-way battle. Andon Nikolow seized the opportunity and was in better shape that day than Atanas Schopow, so that he was able to defeat him with 525 kg (180-155-190) to 517.5 kg (180-145-192.5) and thus won the gold medal.

In 1973 the International Weightlifting Federation (IMF) abolished pushing. Since then, the competitions have only consisted of a duel that includes tearing and pushing. Andon Nikolow coped well with this new regulation, although he did not win any further international titles in his further career. But that was entirely due to David Rigert, who was far ahead of all other lifters in his weight class and his time with his performance, unless he had three failed attempts at the break.

Andon Nikolow came at the European Championships in 1973 in Madrid in middle heavyweight with 352.5 (155-197.5) behind Rigert, 367.5 (165-202.5) on the 2nd place. He also reached 352.5 kg (162.5-190) at the 1973 World Cup in Havana . There this performance was only enough for 4th place in the middle heavyweight division. The winner was again David Rigert with 365 kg (165-200).

At the 1974 European Championship in Verona , Andon Nikolow undoubtedly completed the best competition of his career. He increased his middle-heavy weight to 385 kg (175-210) and was thus defeated by David Rigert, who also achieved 385 kg (172.5-212.5) only because of the slightly higher body weight. He had bad luck on the other hand at the World Cup in Manila in 1974 , because there he did not succeed in the snatch, so that he remained unplaced without a duel. In the push he came to 202.5 kg and won the bronze medal in this individual discipline.

After that, Andon Nikolow was injured so badly several times that he could not compete in 1975 and 1976. In 1977 he finished 2nd at the Bulgarian championship with 325 kg (145-180) in the middle heavyweight division. However, it was not until 1978 that he was ready for participation in international championships. He managed this year at the European Championships in Havířov 352.5 kg (167.5-185) and took 3rd place behind David Rigert, 397.5 kg and Rolf Milser from the Federal Republic of Germany , 375 kg. At the 1978 World Cup in Gettysburg , Andon Nikolow increased to 365 kg (170-195), but only came up behind Rolf Milser, 377.5 kg, Gennadi Bessonow , USSR, 375 kg and the Hungarian Antalovics, 367.5 kg 4th place.

1979 he was with 357.5 kg (167.5-190) Bulgarian champion. However, he subsequently resigned due to further injury problems.

He then graduated from the Sports University in Sofia and became a weightlifting trainer. In 2004 he succeeded Anton Kodschabaschew as president of the Bulgarian Weightlifting Association. He took on a difficult position because hardly in office he had to announce the doping case Rumjana Petkowa, who was world weightlifting champion. The Bulgarian weightlifters were hit even harder in 2008, because this year the entire Bulgarian national weightlifting team, a total of eleven athletes, was convicted of doping. The athletes concerned were banned by the IMF until 2012 and the Bulgarian Weightlifting Association was excluded from the international championships. For this reason there were no Bulgarian weightlifters at the Olympic Games in Beijing . It is not known to what extent Andon Nikolov himself is involved in this affair.

International success

year space competition Weight class
1971 1. Danube Cup tournament (juniors) in Vienna Medium difficulty with 420 kg (140-130-150), before Mate, Romania , 390 kg
1972 1. Danube Cup tournament in Budapest Medium difficulty with 500 kg (165-150-185), in front of Győző Veres , Hungary , 477.5 kg u. Orszag, Czechoslovakia , 472.5 kg
1972 3. EM in Constanța Medium difficulty with 525 kg (182.5-152.5-190), behind David Rigert , USSR , 557.5 kg (185-165-207.5) and Atanas Schopow , Bulgaria, 527.5 kg (177.5-147.5-202.5)
1972 gold OS in Munich Medium difficulty with 525 kg (180-155-190) in front of Atanas Schopow, 517.5 kg (180-145-192.5) and Hans Bettembourg , Sweden , 512.5 kg (182.5-145-185)
1973 1. Intern. Tournament in Paris Medium difficulty with 345 kg (160-185), ahead of Norbert Ozimek , Poland , 327.5 kg
1973 2. EM in Madrid Medium difficulty with 352.5 kg (155–197.5), behind David Rigert, 367.5 kg (165–202.5), in front of Atanas Schopow, 350 kg (150–200)
1973 4th World Cup in Havana Medium difficulty with 352.5 kg (162.5–190), behind David Rigert, 365 (165–200), Wassili Kolotow , USSR, 360 kg (157.5–202.5) and Peter Petzold , GDR , 357.5 kg
1974 1. Danube Cup tournament in Braunau Medium difficulty with 382.5 kg (175–207.5), ahead of György Rehus, Hungary, 335 kg a. Rolf Milser , FRG, 330 kg
1974 2. EM in Verona Medium difficulty with 385 kg (175–210), behind David Rigert, 385 kg (172.5–212.5), in front of Sergei Poltorazki , USSR, 362.5 kg (162.5–200)
1974 unpl. World Cup in Manila Medium difficulty after 3 failed attempts in tearing, in pushing 202.5 kg
1977 1. Danube Cup tournament in Pleven Medium difficulty with 337.5 kg (155–182.5), before György Rehus, 337.5 kg
1978 3. EM in Havířov Medium difficulty with 352.5 kg (167.5-185), behind David Rigert, 397.5 kg a. Rolf Milser , 375 kg
1978 4th World Cup in Gettysburg Medium difficulty with 365 kg (170-195), behind Rolf Milser , 377.5 kg, Gennadi Bessonow , USSR, 375 kg a. Antalovics, Hungary, 367.5 kg

WM + EM individual medals

  • World Cup gold medals: 1972 / tear / medium difficulty
  • World Cup silver medals: 1973 / tear / medium difficulty
  • World Cup bronze medals: 1972 / pushing / medium difficulty - 1974 / pushing / medium difficulty
  • European gold medals: 1974 / tear / medium difficulty
  • European Championship silver medals: 1973 / tear / medium difficulty - 1974 / push / medium difficulty - 1978 / tear / medium difficulty
  • European Championship bronze medals: 1972 / push / medium difficulty - 1972 / tear / medium difficulty

World records

date place discipline Weight class power
23.2.74 Burgas Tear Medium difficulty 170.5 kg
April 27, 74 Braunau Tear Medium difficulty 172.5 kg
April 27, 74 Braunau Tear Medium difficulty 175 kg
April 27, 74 Braunau Duel Medium difficulty 382.5 kg (175–207.5)

swell

  • Trade journal athletics ,
  • Database of the Institute for Applied Training Sciences at the University of Leipzig,
  • Website "www.sports-reference.net",
  • Website "www.chidlovski.net"

Web links