Greatest C&J of all time??

[Amiright]

This is still one of my favorite videos. His technique is so crisp, I just love it.

Power Jerk! this is also one of my favorites

[hardestgainer]

Although I think it's a terrible shame for Taranenko's 266kg Clean and Jerk to be no longer recognised as the world record, I have a higher opinion of the bodyweight related lifts. In the highest class, there is no need to pay attention to weight and constantly having to restrict weight to make a class and then bulking and cutting to make the next class while still remaining competitive.

I also rate Olympic lifters more than Powerlifters because of the anti-doping rules and strict technical rules.

[jakemcmillan]

I also rate Olympic lifters more than Powerlifters because of the anti-doping rules

There's quite of bit of steroid usage in Olympic lifting.

[Eivind]

Bumping with video of another greek athlete. I was just blown away with the speed he gets under the bar! Seriously, it's the fastest I've ever seen anybody get under the bar. Definently worthy of being listed here.

[kidsoftheblackhole]

nice one,

I think Kakhi Kakhiashvilli still has the world record for snatch and snatch & clean and jerk total in his kg category. since 1999.

[Dave70]

[AbleArcher]

nice one,

I think Kakhi Kakhiashvilli still has the world record for snatch and snatch & clean and jerk total in his kg category. since 1999.

That's indeed what Wikipedia states. Szymon Kolecki from Poland captured the C&J WR in the 94kg division back in 2000.

I found this old video of the legendary Vasily Alexeev clean and pressing 230kgs. This event was discontinued in 1972, but my god this is an impressive lift!

[StevieB]

Mathias Steiner

[AbleArcher]

Another fantastic C&J by Alexeev:

[JasonLB]

I found this old video of the legendary Vasily Alexeev clean and pressing 230kgs. This event was discontinued in 1972, but my god this is an impressive lift!

Don't get me wrong, that's definitely impressive, but he is a great example of why the lift is no longer contested. He is essentially doing a jerk: he uses leg and hip drive to help get the bar up and then uses a very quick back bend to help get under the bar. Just compare the speed with which he "presses" 500 with the speed he jerks 530. In any case, the rules for the press originally stated that no back bend was allowed and then, after the USSR started getting loose with that rule, it was changed to no "excessive" back bend. With no clear definition of what that meant, guys like Alexeev went nuts and, while putting up incredible numbers, were no longer "pressing" anything.

Compare what he does with the guys from the preceding generation of lifters. Go to the end of this video to see two examples:



Then there's Serge Redding, who, despite using a similar style to Alexeev, doesn't stretch the rules nearly as much (IMO, Alexeev's lift at 507 shouldn't have counted (clear Knee bend) and Reddings lift here should have stood as the record.)

[JasonLB]

This is pretty badass too. Koklyaev uses Alexeev's WR barbell from the 70s... no bumper plates and no rotating collars:

[ricepower]

Look at the length of his femurs compared to the rest of his leg, I guess it gave him some sort of hamstring advantage!

[ricepower]

Again another person with long femurs!

[Dave70]

OK, I'll be serious..
For shear pressing strength and raw power, I think Paul Anderson stands alone.

[MikeD]

Have a soft spot for Alexeev still.