Vasily Alekseyev, one of the most celebrated weightlifters globally, passed away on November 25, 2011, due to heart complications after being admitted to a cardiology clinic in Munich on November 9, 2011. He was laid to rest in the central cemetery of Shakhty. His legacy is honored in the city with a prospect and a sports school named after him, as well as a monument erected in his memory.

Alekseyev’s journey to becoming the best athlete of the 20th century is remarkable, considering he didn’t encounter a real barbell until the age of 18. Before dedicating himself to weightlifting, he assisted his father at a logging site, where he developed his strength by lifting wheel rims from trolleys.

Alekseyev’s strength was evident from a young age, allowing him to help his father with tasks such as carrying wheel rims and heavy logs at the logging site. During his time at university in Arkhangelsk, he participated in both volleyball and weightlifting.

Alekseyev faced a potential turning point when he almost gave up sports to support his family after marrying his wife, Olimpiada. He took a job at a pulp and paper mill to provide for them.

In 1966, Alekseyev relocated with his family to Shakhty, Rostov region. It was here that he developed his unique training system, which rapidly yielded results, leading to him becoming a medalist at the USSR Championship in 1968.

Alekseyev’s career highlights include winning two Olympic gold medals, in 1972 in Munich and 1976 in Montreal. Throughout his career, he achieved an impressive 80 world records. His prowess earned him the nickname “Russian Bear” from the foreign press. He also received significant recognition in the USSR, with even Vysotsky singing about him.

However, at the home Olympics in Moscow, Alekseyev did not win any medals. He believed that he was poisoned before the competition to undermine his performance.

Following his competitive career, Alekseyev transitioned to coaching, taking on the role of head coach of the national weightlifting team.