Grigory Verichev

Grigory Verichev, one of the top heavyweight judokas of the world in 1980s, took up judo in 1969 and made it to the Soviet national team in 1977. During his career Verichev won the 1988 Olympic heavyweight bronze, was world heavyweight champion in 1987, and won World Championships heavyweight silver in 1981 and bronze in 1985 and 1989. Verichev was European heavyweight champion in 1981, 1985 and 1988 and European open class champion in 1987. He also won the open class silver in 1984, heavyweight bronzes in 1982, 1986 and 1989 and open class bronzes in 1983 and 1986. Domestically, Verichev won Soviet heavyweight titles in 1978, 1982, 1986 and 1989 and Soviet open class titles in 1981 and 1984-86. After finishing his sporting career Verichev worked as a police officer and judo coach in Chelyabinsk. Since 2007 an annual memorial judo tournament in his honor has been held in Chelyabinsk.