Pocket Hercules at 16
16-year old Olympic weightlifter Naim Suleymanov of Bulgaria is training for the 1984 European Championship in Vittorio, Spain.
Left to right:
Neno Terziysky (52kg), Nedelcho Kolev and Norair Nurikyan are observing the training session of Naim.
Suleymanov did 7 training sessions per day at the time. He became the European champion with the total of 297.5kg (130 + 168).
Here is an outline of the training day of Naim Suleymanov on Friday, May 4, 1984 in Varna, Bulgaria:
- 10—10:45: Snatch—10 to 12 sets of one or two repetitions, working up in increments to approximately 90% of the lifter’s best competitive lift.
- 10:45—11:15: Break.
- 11:15—12: Clean and jerk—10 to 12 sets of one or two repetitions, working up to 90% of best competitive lift.
- 12—12:15: Break.
- 12:15—12:45: Eight to 10 sets of front squats with either one or two repetitions, working up to 90% of the lifter’s best training poundage.
- 12:45—1: Walk to hotel.
- 1:00—1:30: Lunch.
- 1:30—3:45: Rest, nap, Mr. Cash, Mr. Nelson.
- 3:45—4: Dress and walk to training hall for afternoon sessions.
- 4—4:45: Clean and jerk—10 to 12 sets of one or two repetitions, working up to approximately 100% of lifter’s previous best.
- 4:45—5: Break.
- 5—5:45: 10 to 12 sets of one or two repetitions, working up to 95% of previous best in clean and jerk.
- 5:45—6:15: Break.
- 6:15—7: Snatch—10 to 12 sets of one or two repetitions, working up to approximately 100% of previous best.
- 7—7:15: Break.
- 7:15—7:45: Regular or back squats—10 to 12 sets of one or two repetitions, working up to 90% or 95% of previous training best.