Pavel KUZNETSOV

Pavel Kuznetsov was the best sub-heavyweight weightlifter in the world during the mid-1980s and was the main favorite for 1984 Olympic gold before the Soviets boycotted the Olympics. Instead, Kuznetsov lifted at the 1984 Friendship Games, where he won with a total of 427.5 kg while setting a clean & jerk world record, that was 42.5 kg more than the 1984 Olympic winner Rolf Milser had lifted at the Olympics. Four years later at Seoul, however, by then past his prime, Kuznetsov still managed to win Olympic gold. Kuznetsov was the World Champion in 1983 and 1987, winning silver in 1985 and bronze in 1989, and European Champion in 1983 and 1984, while taking bronze in 1987 and 1989. Kuznetsov won Soviet sub-heavyweight titles in 1983, 1984 and 1987, while taking the heavyweight bronze in 1990. He also won the Soviet sub-heavyweight cup in 1983 and set three sub-heavyweight clean & jerk world records. Kuznetsov finished his sporting career after the fall of Soviet Union. From 1987 to 2006 Kuznetsov worked with the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Vladimir Oblast. He also worked as a weightlifting coach and served as the president of Vladimir Oblast Weightlifting Federation.