The Russian Weightlifting Federation published the list of their lifters for 2013.
I scanned the list for some of the prominent names.
No Dmitry Klokov to be found in there. Dmitry Lapikov is missing too.
If you are wondering where Apti Aukhadov is, he is listed in the U23 85kg (I thought he wanted to move up a class?).
Here is the list (PDF Warning)
105kg
- Khadzhimurat Akkaev
- David Bedzhanyan
- Gennady Muratov
- Alexander Tchepikov
- Maxim Sheyko
+105kg
- Ruslan Albegov
- Andrey Kozlov
- Alexey Lovchev
- Chingiz Mogushkov
94 kg
- Aslan Bidet
- Andrey Demanov
- Aleksandr Ivanov
85 kg
- Rinat Kireev
- Denis Maslov
- Dmitry Petrov
- Aleksey Yufkin
77 kg
- Michael Gob
- Dmitry Ivanenko
- Safaryan Alexander
69 kg
- Armen Alekyan
- Taukan Gekkiev
- Kazarian Armen
- Oleg Chen
62 kg
- Pavel Sukhanov
- Artem Farenyuk
56 kg
- Gennady Zykov
what about apti aukhadov?
He is in there, just not in the seniors section. Check U23 85kg
Apti Aukhadov is missing
Nope, he is in there, just not in the seniors section.
What’s happened with Klokov?
He’s old is what I’m guessing. Turning 30 in a few days puts him at 33 in Rio, Akkaev will be 31 which could be okay. With a lot of good young kids moving up, I can see why he is missing.
Klokov mentioned in the Russian interview (post Olympics) that he is planning to come back for Rio 2016 (he wanted to finish his career at London but was unable to do so). He also mentions that he is still preparing for this year’s competitions, whilst overcoming his injuries. In the article, he makes it sound like his motivation to train has dropped due to not making Olympics due to injury and the fact that the upcoming competitions e.g. Europeans/Worlds aren’t that much of interest to him since “he has been there done that”. He said the preparation for Rio will be highly motivating for him since it gives him a chance to win gold at Olympics and finish his career on a high.
That is all well and good, but if he does not get selected, he does not get selected. If coaches say he will be too old, he simply won’t be on the roster.
Not that it means he won’t be back.
Himself and his father have a great deal of clout in Russian weightlifting (ie money/politics) so anything could happen.
Sounds like politics to me. We never got a good explanation for London and they may want to go with a safer more reliable bronze+. Sheyko is my wildcard pick once he fully matures into a solid 105.
Lapikov was, most likely, not on list due to he is still on suspension ’till about mid year
Evgeny Chigishev is missing :(! He should change countries – Russia has to many good lifters in 105+… But for other countries Evgeny would still be a force.