Atanas Kirov (Bulgarian: Атанас Киров, 24 September 1946 – 27 January 2017) was a Bulgarian bantamweight weightlifter. He was a three-time World Champion, winning the bantamweight title consecutively from 1973 to 1975. Kirov won four European titles, winning the bantamweight class in 1969 and 1973–75. He also earned a World silver medal in 1969. Kirov set two official world records in the total, with 257.5 kg in September 1973 in Havana, Cuba; and 260.0 kg in February 1974 in his hometown of Burgas. For his achievements he was made an honorary citizen of Burgas. Kirov was responsible for starting the long-line of great Bulgarian lifters, especially in the lighter classes. He was born on September 24, 1946, in Burgas. He began competing in 1962 at the Chernomorets Club with coach Ilya Babachev, later transferred to Neftochimic Burgas. Only a 156 cm tall competitor, fitting perfectly into the bantam scales, he dominated the home scene for a decade. At the 1968 Olympics he took 7th place (335 kg). Then came September 1969 and the World and European Championships in Warsaw. 14 competitors took part in the bantam. The press was won by Földi with 125 kg, Kirov was third with 107.5 kg. The snatch was dominated by Trebicki (107.5 kg), second was Földi with 105 kg and Kirov registered 102.5 kg. In the clean and jerk Földi and Trebicki got zero and dropped, Kirov lifted 137.5 kg and that was enough for the European title (347.5 kg). He was second in the world behind Mohamed Nassiri (360 kg). In the World Championships in 1971 Kirov finished 5th (352.5 kg). At the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich he was fourth with a Bulgarian record of 362.5 kg. Between 1973 and 1975, Kirov won the World Championships and started the era of domination of Bulgarian weightlifting: 1973 (110 + 147.5 = 257.5 kg), 1974 (110 + 145 = 255 kg) and 1975 (110 + 145 = 255 kg). His last World championships was in Stuttgart 1977 when he finishеd 9th. He competed in the 1968 and 1972 Summer Olympics and placed seventh and fifth, respectively.[1][2][3]
atanas, kirov, bulgarian, Атанас, Киров, september, 1946, january, 2017, bulgarian, bantamweight, weightlifter, three, time, world, champion, winning, bantamweight, title, consecutively, from, 1973, 1975, kirov, four, european, titles, winning, bantamweight, c. Atanas Kirov Bulgarian Atanas Kirov 24 September 1946 27 January 2017 was a Bulgarian bantamweight weightlifter He was a three time World Champion winning the bantamweight title consecutively from 1973 to 1975 Kirov won four European titles winning the bantamweight class in 1969 and 1973 75 He also earned a World silver medal in 1969 Kirov set two official world records in the total with 257 5 kg in September 1973 in Havana Cuba and 260 0 kg in February 1974 in his hometown of Burgas For his achievements he was made an honorary citizen of Burgas Kirov was responsible for starting the long line of great Bulgarian lifters especially in the lighter classes He was born on September 24 1946 in Burgas He began competing in 1962 at the Chernomorets Club with coach Ilya Babachev later transferred to Neftochimic Burgas Only a 156 cm tall competitor fitting perfectly into the bantam scales he dominated the home scene for a decade At the 1968 Olympics he took 7th place 335 kg Then came September 1969 and the World and European Championships in Warsaw 14 competitors took part in the bantam The press was won by Foldi with 125 kg Kirov was third with 107 5 kg The snatch was dominated by Trebicki 107 5 kg second was Foldi with 105 kg and Kirov registered 102 5 kg In the clean and jerk Foldi and Trebicki got zero and dropped Kirov lifted 137 5 kg and that was enough for the European title 347 5 kg He was second in the world behind Mohamed Nassiri 360 kg In the World Championships in 1971 Kirov finished 5th 352 5 kg At the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich he was fourth with a Bulgarian record of 362 5 kg Between 1973 and 1975 Kirov won the World Championships and started the era of domination of Bulgarian weightlifting 1973 110 147 5 257 5 kg 1974 110 145 255 kg and 1975 110 145 255 kg His last World championships was in Stuttgart 1977 when he finished 9th He competed in the 1968 and 1972 Summer Olympics and placed seventh and fifth respectively 1 2 3 Atanas KirovAt the 1969 World Weightlifting ChampionshipsPersonal informationBorn 1946 09 24 24 September 1946Burgas BulgariaDied27 January 2017 2017 01 27 aged 70 Sofia BulgariaHeight156 cm 5 ft 1 in Weight56 kg 123 lb SportSportWeightliftingClubNeftochimic BurgasMedal record Representing BulgariaWorld Weightlifting Championships1969 Warsaw 56 kg1973 Havana 56 kg1974 Manila 56 kg1975 Moscow 56 kgEuropean Weightlifting Championships1969 Warsaw 56 kg1973 Madrid 56 kg1974 Verona 56 kg1975 Moscow 56 kgBalkan Weightlifting Championships1968 Yambol 56 kg1969 Bucharest 56 kg1973 Athens 56 kg1974 Burgas 56 kgDanube Cup1967 Bratislava 56 kg1970 Sofia 56 kg1973 Havirov 56 kg1975 Donaueschingen 56 kg1972 Budapest 60 kg1969 Bucharest 56 kgBulgarian Weightlifting Championships1967 Sofia 56 kg1968 Sofia 56 kg1969 Sofia 56 kg1970 Sofia 56 kg1972 Sofia 56 kg1975 Yambol 56 kg1976 Dimitrovgrad 60 kg1977 Yambol 56 kg1979 Sofia 56 kg1966 Veliko Tarnovo 60 kg1971 Sofia 60 kg1973 Vidin 60 kg1965 Asenovgrad 56 kgReferences edit Atanas Kirov sports reference com Atanas Kirov chidlovski net Pochina legendata vv vdiganeto na tezhesti Atanas Kirov in Bulgarian nbsp This biographical article relating to weightlifting in Bulgaria is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Atanas Kirov amp oldid 1174744933, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
