Viktor Grigoryevich Kurentsov (Russian: Виктор Григорьевич Куренцов; 5 April 1941 – 7 April 2021) was a Soviet middleweight weightlifter. He competed at the 1964 and 1968 Olympics and won a silver and a gold medal, respectively.[1]

Viktor Kurentsov
Kurentsov at the 1964 Olympics
Personal information
Born(1941-04-05)April 5, 1941
Tukhinka, Syanno District, Vitebsk Region, Byelorussian SSR, Soviet Union
DiedApril 7, 2021(2021-04-07) (aged 80)
Odintsovo, Moscow Oblast, Russia
Height1.64 m (5 ft 5 in)
Weight75 kg (165 lb)
Sport
SportWeightlifting
ClubSoviet Army Khabarovsk/Moscow Oblast
Medal record
Representing the  Soviet Union
Olympic Games
Silver medal – second place 1964 Tokyo -75 kg
Gold medal – first place 1968 Mexico City -75 kg
World Championships
Silver medal – second place 1964 Tokyo -75 kg
Gold medal – first place 1965 Tehran -75 kg
Gold medal – first place 1966 East Berlin -75 kg
Gold medal – first place 1968 Mexico City -75 kg
Gold medal – first place 1969 Warsaw -75 kg
Gold medal – first place 1970 Columbus -75 kg

Born in Tukhinka, Syanno District, Vitebsk Region, then part of the Byelorussian SSR, in the Soviet Union, Kurentsov started training in weightlifting aged 18, while serving in the Soviet Army in the Russian Far East. By 1964 he became the world top middleweight weightlifter, winning a silver medal at the 1964 Olympics, five world titles in 1965–1970, and seven European titles in 1964–1971. He also won silver at the 1972 European Championships and bronze in 1974. Domestically Kurentsov won nine Soviet titles (1964–70, 1972, 1974). Between 1964 and 1968 he set 18 official world records.[2]

After ending his weightlifting career Kurentsov continued to serve in the Soviet Army, retiring in 1990 as a colonel. He then became a politician and was elected to the Odintsovo city council. Between 1993 and 1998 he worked at the Russian embassy in Italy and later at the international relations office at the Odintsovo district government.[1]

Kurentsov died on 7 April 2021, two days after his 80th birthday.[3]

References edit

  1. ^ a b Viktor Kurentsov. sports-reference.com
  2. ^ VIKTOR KURENTSOV. chidlovski.net
  3. ^ "Умер олимпийский чемпион по тяжелой атлетике Виктор Куренцов" [Death of Olympic champion in weightlifting Viktor Kurentsov]. TASS. 8 April 2021. Retrieved 8 April 2021.

External links edit