Leonid Zhabotinsky
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| Olympic medal record | |||
| Men's weightlifting | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gold | 1964 Tokyo | Heavyweight | |
| Gold | 1968 Mexico City | Heavyweight | |
Leonid Ivanovich Zhabotinsky (Russian: Леонид Иванович Жаботинский; born January 28, 1938 in village Uspenka, Sumy Oblast, Ukrainian SSR) was an outstanding Soviet weightlifter who set 17 world records in the superheavyweight class and won gold medals at the 1964, and 1968 Olympics.
Zhabotinsky, spent his childhood years in Kharkov. After graduating from the seven-year secondary school, he worked at the Kharkov Tractor Plant and was coached at the local weightlifting club of the Armed Forces sports society. Zhabotinsky debuted at the Ukrainian SSR Championship in 1957, where he earned a bronze medal. Later that year, Zhabotinsky entered the Kharkov Pedagogical Institute and studied there until 1964. At the 1961 USSR Championship in Dnepropetrovsk Zhabotinsky earned silver with the result of 500 kg. Two years later he set his first world record, starting an outstanding series of international achievements.
Zhabotinsky was the flag bearer for the Soviet Union during the opening ceremonies of the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City and caused a stir by carrying the Soviet flag single-handed when the team marched in.
Between 1963 and 1970 Zhabotinsky set 17 world records in the superheavyweight class and won gold medals at the 1964 and 1968 Olympics. The famous rivalry between him and Yury Vlasov at the 1964 Summer Olympics was one of the most memorable moments of that Games. He was a member of CPSU between 1965 and 1991.
