Arkady Vorobyov

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games • Other
SexMale
Full nameArkady Nikitich•Vorobyov
Used nameArkady•Vorobyov
Original nameАркадий Никитич•Воробьёв
Born3 October 1924 in Mordovo, Tambov (RUS)
Died22 December 2012 in Moskva (Moscow), Moskva (RUS)
Measurements169 cm / 82-90 kg
NOC Russian Federation Soviet Union
Nationality Russian Federation
Medals OG
Gold 2
Silver 0
Bronze 1
Total 3

Biography

Arkady Vorobyov took up weightlifting while serving in the Soviet Navy on the Black Sea as a deep-sea diver. Vorobyov served in a unit which cleared mines from the sea. Vorobyov started weightlifting in the light-middleweight class and competed in that category until 1953. He won bronze at the 1952 Olympics, gold at the 1953 World championships, silver at the 1950 World Championships, golds at the 1950 and 1953 European Championships, and silver at the 1952 European Championships in that category. He also won the Soviet title in light-heavyweight for three consecutive years (1950-1952) and set five light-heavyweight world records – four in snatch and one in clean and jerk. In 1953 Vorobyov switched to middle-heavyweight class and was unbeatable at the Soviet Championships, winning seven titles in a row until he lost to Trofim Lomakin in 1960 and earned his only silver at the Soviet Championships. Vorobyov was nearly unbeatable in middle-heavyweight internationally as well. He won two Olympic golds (1956, 1960), was World champion four times (1954, 1955, 1957, 1958) and won silver in 1959 and bronze in 1961. Vorobyov was also three times European champion (1954, 1955, 1958), while taking silver in 1959 and bronze in 1961. He also set 21 middle-heavyweight world records – nine in snatch, three in clean and jerk, two in press, and seven in the total.

During his sporting career, Vorobyov studied psychology at the Sverdlovsk (now Yekaterinburg) Medical University, which he finished in 1962 with a Candidate of Medical Sciences degree and in 1970 he earned a Doctor of Medical Sciences degree. From 1977 until his retirement in 1991, he worked as a rector at the Moscow State Academy of Physical Culture. Vorobyov published over 200 scientific papers and wrote five textbooks about weightlifting. He also worked as head coach of Soviet national weightlifting team for many years. In 1995, Vorobyov was elected to the International Weightlifting Federation Hall of Fame.

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal Nationality As
1952 Summer Olympics Weightlifting URS RUS Arkady Vorobyov
Light-Heavyweight, Men (Olympic) 3 Bronze
1956 Summer Olympics Weightlifting URS RUS Arkady Vorobyov
Middle-Heavyweight, Men (Olympic) 1 Gold
1960 Summer Olympics Weightlifting URS RUS Arkady Vorobyov
Middle-Heavyweight, Men (Olympic) 1 Gold

Other participations

Games Role NOC As
Other RUS Arkady Vorobyov

Special Notes