Vasily Mazheykov (USSR), 1948-2020

History in Color:
September 22, 1975, Moscow, Russia – 27-year old heavyweight from Alma Ata, Vasily Mazheykov competes for the Team USSR in the 110kg weight class at the 1975 World Championships in Moscow.

In the end of the night, Mazheykov became a World and European vice champion after finishing second to powerful Bulgarian junior Valentin Khristov. Vasily’s total was 390kg (170+220).

Vasily Mazheykov (1948-2020) was one of the strongest Soviet heavyweights in the 1970s.

He was a member of the prestigious Club 500 of the world athletes who managed to total 500+kg in the era of three lifts competitions (press, snatch, clean-and-jerk). At 23, Mazheykov was ranked as No. 80 overall on the list of the best all-time athletes before the press lift was eliminated in 1972. His best total was 535kg (185+150+200) in the 110kg class in 1972.

After the sunset of the press at the 1972 Olympics in Munich, Mazheykov continued his progress in the 2-lift competitions. His best total was 400kg (175+225) in the 110kg class in 1978.

The year of 1975 was the most successful in his career. He won gold medals at the 1975 Spartakiade and 1975 USSR Championships in Vilnus and then was selected to represent the country and won silver medals at the 1975 World and European Championships in Moscow.

As previously reported by Lift Up, Vasily Mazheykov died in his home town of Almaty, Kazakhstan on July 25, 2020.

He was 72.

Our deepest condolences are being sent to his family and friends.

RIP, Champion!