Boris Selitsky

Boris Selitsky participated in boxing, wrestling and athletics before taking up weightlifting in 1957, and was selected to the Soviet national team in 1967, when he won his only Soviet title as a light-heavyweight. Selitsky was the 1968 Olympic, World and European Champion, while taking bronze at the 1969 World Championships and silver at the 1969 European Championships. Domestically, in addition to his 1967 title, Selitsky won silver at the 1968 and 1971 and bronze at the 1970 Soviet championships. He also won the Soviet Cup in 1970 and set two world records, one in the clean & jerk, and one in the total. After finishing his sporting career in 1976 Selitsky worked as a weightlifting coach in his hometown of Leningrad (now St. Petersburg). Since 2006 a junior tournament in his honor has been held in St. Petersburg.