Vladimir Stogov

A bantamweight, Vladimir Stogov rose to fame in 1955 when he won the Soviet title, European title and World title. Repeating his European and Soviet victories in 1956, he went to the 1956 Olympics as a clear favorite to win the gold medal. At the Olympics, however, Stogov had to settle for silver when he lost unexpectedly to American Chuck Vinci, who set a world total record. After the Olympics Stogov established himself as the world’s best bantamweight weightlifter by winning the World title four times (1957-59, 1961) and taking bronze in 1962, in addition winning the European title four times (1958-61) while taking silver in 1962. Stogov missed the 1960 Olympics due to injury and thus was never able to claim the highest title, Olympic gold. In his absence Vinci, who had been his closest competitor between the Olympics and whom he had defeated in every head-to-head competition between Olympics, won his second Olympic title. Stogov was also a four-time Soviet champion (1955-57, 1959), while taking silver in 1960-62. During his career Stogov set eight bantamweight world records: two in the press, one in the snatch, one in the clean & jerk, and four in the total. After finishing his sporting career Stogov worked as a weightlifting coach in Moscow. His most famous pupils were 1972 Olympic lightweight champion Mukharby Kirzhinov and 1980 European bantamweight champion Oleg Karayanidi.