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kiloamp
New member
Nicu Vlad is an amazing athlete. I had a chance to watch him train while helping out at the junior worlds that were being held in Minnesota one year. It's hard to describe how incredibly fast and precise his movements are unless you see them in person. During his workout, every lift he did looked identical, from an empty bar to 190Kg (418Lbs) in the snatch. And what surprised me most is how incredibly quick he is for a big and tall man. I'd say he's at least 6' 2" and when I saw him, around 240Lbs bodyweight. When you watch the video, just focus on the position of Vlad's elbows and wrist throughout the lift. His turnover is so quick and precise even when compared to Botev who himself has excellent techique. I guess that's what I love about weightlifting. You can be a world champion many different ways. You can be built like a brick shithouse and be strong as an ox, like Botev, or you can be tall with extra ordinary athletism (like having a 42" vertical) and superior technique like Vlad. One more thing about Vlad, the first time I heard his name was during the 1984 Olympics in L.A. I remember being disappointed because he wiped out the last records that David Rigert held. Well, I would even think Rigert would appreciate that it was a lifter of Vlad's talent that broke them instead of a lifter of lesser talent.
