IronMind Big Lift Series: Szymon Kolecki def. Akakios Kakiashvilis

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It was the youngster vs. the master in the 94-kg class at the 1999 Men’s European Weightlifting Championships in La Coruna, Spain. Coming into the event, everyone assumed Akakios Kakiashvilis (GRE) would take the victory unopposed. But 17-year-old Szymon Kolecki (POL) had been doing some eye-opening lifting, cleaning and jerking 230 kg in training. Kakiashvilis got things going with two strong snatches at 172.5 and 177.5 kg. The kid Kolecki hung right with him and stuck the same weights in his first two attempts. Each came out for a snatch of 180 kg and this was where a crucial separation occurred. Kakiashvilis lifted the weight overhead but was unable to stick it and the barbell came crashing to the floor. Kolecki had his window, and once he lifted the bar, there was no doubt about it. The kid now held a 2.5 kg lead over the master with the clean and jerk still to come. It was evident that the kid was not cowed by the presence of the master, but seemed to be relishing the battle. Each knocked off 217.5 and 222.5 kg in the clean and jerk, but was the kid good for one more? Kakiashvilis nailed 225 for his third, so it came down to Kolecki, who had to grind to stand up with the 225, but when he jerked it, it was gone, and the kid was a new king. Pandemonium—and Kolecki had set 7 Junior world records in the process. You can see this epic battle here, now: watch and be amazed. For more on this story, see MILO, June 1999, Volume 7.1 in the IronMind e-store (http://www.ironmind-store.com/MILO-Ju....