Atanas Shopov

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Atanas Shopov (* 4. October 1951 in Dobrowniza , Pazardzhik ) is a former Bulgarian weightlifter . He won a silver medal at the 1972 Olympic Games and a bronze medal in 1976 , both in the middle heavyweight division.

Career

Atanas Schopow is one of the many young Bulgarian weightlifters who received special support in the early 1970s and who quickly rose to the world elite under the guidance of head coach Ivan Abadschiew , who has been working in the Bulgarian Weightlifting Association since 1969 . He was a member of the army.

At the age of eighteen he was used at the World and European Championships in Warsaw in 1969 . He started there in the light heavyweight division and achieved 425 kg (130-125-170) in the Olympic three-way battle. With this achievement he reached the 13th place in the world championship ranking and 11th place in the European championship ranking.

A year later, in 1970, he increased to 452.5 kg (142.5-135-175) at the European Championships in Szombathely and thus secured 5th place in the light heavyweight division. At the world championship of the same year in Columbus he achieved in the light heavyweight 455 kg (147.5-135-172.5) and came in 8th place.

At the European Championships in Sofia in 1971 Atanas Schopow then won his first medal in the middle heavyweight division at an international championship. The decisive factor for this was the enormous increase to 512.5 kg (172.5-145-195). Only David Rigert from the USSR and Bo Johansson from Sweden , who both achieved 537.5 kg in the Olympic three-way battle, stayed ahead of him. At the world championship of the same year in Lima he reached 510 kg (172.5-145-192.5) and thus missed a medal with 4th place only because the USSR also used Vasily Kolotow in this weight class in addition to David Rigert . Rigert won with 542.5 kg, ahead of Kolotow, 537.5 kg a. Bo Johansson, 522.5 kg.

In 1972 Atanas Schopow won the European Championship in Constanța with 527.5 kg (177.5-147.5-202.5) behind David Rigert, who achieved 557.5 kg (185-165-207.5), the EM Silver medal and placed just ahead of his young compatriot Andon Nikolow , who lifted 525 kg. At the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich , David Rigert was a big favorite. However, this failed in three attempts so that he remained unplaced without a three-way performance. Since the Soviet Union had left Vasily Kolotov at home and Bo Johansson was injured, the two young Bulgarians Atanas Schopow and Andon Nikolow suddenly had the chance to fight for the Olympic gold medal . Nikolow won this fight with 525 (180-155-190) to 517.5 kg (180-145-192.5), whereby Atanas Schopow got the chance for the gold medal by two failed attempts in the push with 202.5 kg, which he at the European championship in 1972 was still wasted.

At the beginning of 1973, the International Weightlifting Federation (IMF) abolished pushing. The Olympic three-way fight, consisting of pushing, snatching and pushing, became a duel consisting of pulling and pushing. For Atanas Schopow this fact was very unfavorable, because he was inferior to his opponents in the tear, while he had always been one of the best in pressing. Nevertheless he managed to win the bronze medal at the European Championships in 1973 in Madrid with 350 kg (150-200) behind David Rigert, 367.5 kg and Andon Nikolow, 352.5 kg. His further international career came to an end for the time being. 1974 and 1975 he was not used at any world or European championships. In 1974, however, he was Balkan champion in middle heavyweight with 335 kg (145-190) in a duel against the Greek Iliadis, 310 kg.

In 1975 he achieved at the Bulgarian championship in the middle heavyweight 340 kg (145-195) and was second behind Petkow, 357.5 kg (155-202.5). In 1976 he was able to improve again and was therefore used at the Olympic Games in Montreal in the middle heavyweight division. There he reached 360 kg (155-205) in a duel and fought for the bronze medal with this performance behind David Rigert, 382.5 kg and Lee James , USA , 362.5 kg .

After that Atanas Schopow was no longer at the start in any international championship. In 1979 he was at the 5th National Spartakiade in Sofia in the heavyweight division with 340 kg (147.5–192.5) behind Valentin Christow , 397.5 kg and the like. Malew, 360 kg 3rd place.

Despite his many medals he has not been able to win an international championship title in his career, not even in an individual discipline.

International success

year space competition Weight class
1969 13. WM + EM (11th) in Warsaw Slightly difficult with 425 kg (130-125-170), winner: Masushi Ōuchi , Japan , 487.5 kg ahead of Karoly Bakos , Hungary , 487.5 kg
1970 5. EM in Szombathely Slightly difficult with 452.5 kg (142.5-135-175), behind Gennadi Ivanchenko , USSR , 487.5 kg, György Horvath , Hungary, 472.5 kg, S. Sochanski, Poland , 465 kg a. Hans Bettembourg , Sweden , 462.5 kg
1970 8th. World Cup in Columbus Slightly difficult with 455 kg (147.5-135-172.5), winner: Gennadi Ivanchenko, 505 kg ahead of Norbert Ozimek , Poland, 482.5 kg
1971 3. EM in Sofia Medium difficulty with 512.5 kg (172.5-145-195), behind David Rigert , USSR, 537.5 kg a. Bo Johansson , Sweden, 537.5 kg
1971 4th World Cup in Lima Medium difficulty with 510 kg (172.5-145-192.5), behind David Rigert, 542.5 kg, Wassili Kolotow , USSR, 537.5 kg a. Bo Johansson, 522.5 kg
1972 2. Pre-Olympic tournament in Ulm Medium difficulty with 525 kg, behind Vasili Kolotow, 540 kg (180-160-200), in front of Phil Grippaldi , USA , 502.5 kg
1972 2. EM in Constanța Medium difficulty with 527.5 kg (177.5-147.5-202.5), behind David Rigert, 557.5 kg (185-165-207.5), in front of Andon Nikolow , Bulgaria , 525 kg (182.5- 152.5-190) and Karl Arnold , GDR , 520 kg
1972 silver OS in Munich Medium difficulty with 517.5 kg (180-145-192.5), behind Andon Nikolow, 525 kg (180-155-190), in front of Hans Bettembourg , 512.5 kg
1973 3. Championship of the armies of the Warsaw Pact countries (SKDA championship) in Trenčín / Czechoslovakia Medium difficulty with 330 kg (140-190), behind Walery Schary , USSR, 350 kg u. Norbert Ozimek , 345 kg
1973 3. EM in Madrid Medium difficulty with 350 kg (150-200) behind David Rigert, 382.5 kg u. Andon Nikolow, 352.5 kg
1974 1. Balkan Championships in Burgas Medium difficulty with 335 kg (145–190), off Iliadis, Greece , 310 kg
1976 bronze OS in Montreal Medium difficulty with 360 kg (155–205), behind David Rigert, 382.5 kg a. Lee James , USA, 362.5 kg

World Cup and European Championship individual medals

  • World Cup silver medals: 1976 / pushing / medium difficulty
  • World Cup bronze medals: 1972 / push / medium difficulty
  • European Championship silver medals: 1972 / push / medium difficulty - 1973 / push / medium difficulty
  • EM bronze medals: 1971 / pushing / medium difficulty

swell

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

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Shopov, Atanas
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Bulgarian weightlifter
DATE OF BIRTH 4th October 1951
PLACE OF BIRTH Dobrowniza , Pazardzhik