2024-02-19 00:25:00
With his title from the European Championships in Sofia, Carlos Nassar brought Bulgaria very close to the first place in the eternal ranking of medals from continental weightlifting championships.
Ours have long been the leader in terms of the total number, but in terms of titles, the USSR is still ahead. The former socialist empire has 202 gold, 89 silver and 24 bronze European medals, or 325 in total.
Carlos Nassar’s title from Saturday is the 189th in the history of the Bulgarian bars. Or each next one will be an anniversary one. And the USSR has only 13 titles left. In addition, we have 143 silver and 102 bronze medals, or a total of 434 honors from continental championships.
In bars, Russia did not inherit the medals of the USSR, as in some other sports, and because of this it is separate in the ranking, currently in fourth place.
In Sofia, Bulgaria is only one title away from our record from a few years ago in Tirana, when we had five champions. However, Vasil Marinov and Hristo Hristov, who also have chances for the first place, will raise on Monday.
Carlos is one of six weightlifters we have entered for the world cup in Phuket, Thailand, which will be held from March 31st to April 11th. This is the last stage of the Olympic qualification, being one of the mandatory competitions to get into the rankings.
Our first champion from Sofia, Angel Rusev, is registered as a reserve for Ivan Dimov and Gabriel Marinov in the category up to 61 kilograms. They are followed by Bozhidar Andreev (73), Carlos (89) and Vasil Marinov (102).
Before that, on March 9, Carlos and Bozhidar Andreev have to lift in the last two rounds of the Second Bundesliga for “Heinsheim”. The first match is against “Dortmund Deme” on Saturday, and then on March 9 is the one against “Germany St. Ilgen”. At the moment, the team is in second place after “Böbingen”, but it is one game less.
Ivan Dimov and Vasil Marinov, who are seventh in the standings with “Kemnitzer Athletic” and Hristo Hristov, who is fourth with “Athletic Club Kemnitzer”, have matches in the First Bundesliga until April 4.
“This title is Bulgarian – for all of you. Thank you to everyone who came to honor me in the hall. The title is for all Bulgarians. You were lifting those weights. I am a proud Bulgarian and I will continue to prove it. I love you”, declared Carlos Nassar to the excited fans in “Arena Sofia”, even as he stood on the ladder for #1 seconds after the end of the award ceremony. And then he bowed to every part of the hall.
Carlos blew up the audience as soon as he stepped on the podium for the presentation of the contestants, appearing in a stylish Bulgarian costume.
Nassar triumphed in the 391 kg bout, taking the gold medals in both movements. In the throw, the 19-year-old Bulgarian did it with a new world record for juniors and European record for young people – 176 kg. In the push, he won with 215 kg on his second attempt, and he did not make it to the third, for which he claimed 224 kg.
“It could have been better, but due to a cramp in my leg, I decided not to go for my third push-up attempt. There is definitely more potential that can be unleashed. That the hall was filled was the real victory. That’s why I was so charged and energetic all the time, despite the ailments. This is the real victory for Bulgaria. That so many people came to watch a Bulgarian European title. This race has become my favorite because of the fans. The feeling is great. The audience sang along with me and this should have happened for the Bulgarian people”, said Nassar.
Carlos also announced his ambitions for 2024: “To participate in all competitions and everywhere – gold medals. We don’t stop training. Even next week I’m at a race again. I have not forgotten my goal, namely – the Olympic Games in Paris. And I will chase her to the end,” he added.
As only “24 Chasa” wrote, in recent days Carlos had health problems and a high fever. “I didn’t have a fever today, but I was dehydrated, which caused a cramp on my second push,” he explained.
However, at the last push he cleared the 224kg request, which would have been a new world record in the deadlift and bout. This provoked his main rival Antonino Pizzolato (Italy) to jump from the heavy 215 kg on his second attempt to the 222 kg that would have brought him the title, but failed at this impossible weight.
“The Italian’s request did not bother me. I even thought about showing him how it’s done, but I gave up. If it had been necessary, however, I believe I would have been able to handle it”, concluded Carlos Nassar.
Pizzolato took the silver medal with a 380kg bout. The bronze went to Marin Robu of Moldova with 378.
Until the end of the championship, we have only three weightlifters left – Vasil Marinov and Hristo Hristov today in the 102- and 109-kilogram weight classes and Jessica Ivanova in the women’s super-heavyweight on Tuesday.