Word: rakhmanov
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Dates: during 1980-1980
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Suddenly, Alexeyev emerges and starts to warm up. Though no one wants to stare, all but Rakhmanov look over their shoulders. The young prince was psyched out by Alexeyev the last time they met, and he will have none of Alexeyev's flattering words this time. But Alexeyev is in no position to trouble other opponents; he has problems of his own. He has lost some of the flexibility of the spine required in the snatch, in which a man must bend deep and sweep the bar overhead in a single, flowing motion. He also seems slower today, getting...
While Alexeyev struggles with the snatch, Rakhmanov comes out and starts to warm up. Briskly, efficiently, he snatches one weight, orders it increased, then hoists again with equal ease. Still .young enough to curl his back and lift with supple grace, he has clearly surpassed Alexeyev. The room reverberates with the boom and clang of weights being banged back to earth. Rakhmanov takes no notice...
...warm-up room, where a television set will show them the action out front. The silence is relieved only by the rasping puffs of lifters catching their breaths as they watch the TV monitor. Suddenly, something in the room drops with an ear-shattering crash. Heads jerk around. Rakhmanov alone is still warming up, oblivious to the fate of his teammate...
Alexeyev tries to snatch the barbell weighing 396¾ Ibs. He hurls it up, but cannot get beneath the bar to hold it for the required one second. Down it comes with a bang. The crowd around the television drifts away. Rakhmanov's coach signals to him: "No lift." Alexeyev comes in, smiling, takes two minutes of rest and then tries again. Up and down once more. This time there is no smile when he returns. He goes to his corner, gulps a demitasse of strong black coffee, and heads out for the last time. Again he fails...
...retreats to his cubicle. The competition goes on. Rakhmanov wins easily, making each of his lifts on the first try. When this night is over, it is he who will be the biggest of the big men. But the old long is not sulking. The fearsome visage is gentled by a quick and easy smile. "I have been in training for only two months, and I believe I overtrained during this short period," he explains. Had he started with too great a weight, should he not have begun lower and worked his way up? His answer is almost imperious...