Rafael Chimishkyan
History in Color features a color version of a clean-and-jerk lift by a legendary featherweight Rafael Chimishkyan (CCCP).
Rafael Chimishkyan (b. 1929) competed in the 60kg class for Tbilisi, Georgia.
Chimiskyan was the second Soviet Olympic champion in weightlifting and the first Georgian champion of the Summer Olympics. It all happened on July 25, 1952 at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki. 23-year old Chimishkyan lifted the new world record in total 337.5kg and won a gold medal in the 60kg class. Needless to say, Chimishlyan victory was rather a surprise. He was considered a back-up to a more solid and experienced Nilolay Saxonov on the Team USSR Weightlifting but Chimishkyan was truly brilliant in Helsinki.
In his career, Chimishkyan had 2 golds and 2 silvers at the World championships, 5 golds and 1 siver medals at the European championships, 5 golds, 5 silvers and 3 brozes at the USSR Championships.
Rafael Chimishkyan also set 10 world records.