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Leonid TaranenkoSoviet and Belarusian weightlifter.
Date of Birth: 13.06.1956
Country:  Belarus |
Content:
Biography of Leonid Taranenko
Leonid Taranenko is a former Soviet and Belarusian weightlifter. He was born on July 13, 1956, in Gomel, Belarus.
Early Life and Career
Taranenko began his weightlifting career in the 1970s and quickly rose through the ranks. He trained under the guidance of his first coach, Pyotr Satsyuk. Taranenko represented the DSO "Urozhay" in Minsk and became a prominent member of the Soviet weightlifting team.
Olympic Success
Taranenko's first major success came at the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow, where he won the gold medal. He continued to dominate the weightlifting world, earning numerous titles as the world, European, and Soviet champion. He set an impressive 19 world records during his career, two of which, 266 kg in the clean and jerk and 475 kg in the total, are still unbeaten today. These records were even recognized by the Guinness World Records.
Challenges and Victories
In 1984, Taranenko was unable to participate in the Olympic Games in Los Angeles due to the Soviet boycott. However, during the "Friendship-84" competition, he achieved a result 52.5 kg higher than the Olympic champion Norberto Oberburger of Italy.
In 1988, Taranenko was officially unable to compete in the Olympic Games in Seoul due to an injury, despite winning the European Championship in Cardiff shortly before the Games. However, he made a comeback in the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, winning the silver medal at the age of 36, narrowly losing to his compatriot and Olympic champion Alexandr Kurlovich.
In 1996, at the age of 40, Taranenko won the European Championship once again but failed to qualify for the Olympics in Atlanta. After retiring from his athletic career, he became a coach and trained the Indian national weightlifting team.
Legacy
Leonid Taranenko remains one of the most successful and respected weightlifters in history. His incredible strength, technique, and determination have left an indelible mark on the sport. Taranenko's records and achievements continue to inspire and motivate weightlifters around the world.
