Vasily Alekseev, one of the most celebrated weightlifters in history, passed away on November 25, 2011, due to heart issues, in a clinic in Munich. He was later buried in Shakhty’s central cemetery. His legacy lives on through a street, a sports school, and a monument dedicated to him in the city.

Alekseev’s path to becoming the “Russian Bear,” as he was known in the foreign press, was remarkable. He achieved great recognition in the USSR, even earning a mention in a Vysotsky song. During his career, Alekseev set an astounding 80 world records and secured two Olympic gold medals, first in 1972 in Munich and again in 1976 in Montreal.

Following the 1980 Moscow Olympics, where he suspected poisoning hindered his performance, Alekseev transitioned to coaching, leading the national weightlifting team.

His journey began unconventionally. Alekseev did not encounter a real barbell until he was 18 years old. Before that, he assisted his father at a logging site. He developed his strength by lifting wheels from trolleys and heavy logs.

His strength was evident from a young age, easily assisting his father with heavy labor. While studying at the university in Arkhangelsk, he pursued both volleyball and weightlifting.

Early marriage to his wife, Olimpiada, led him to work at a pulp and paper mill to support his family. In 1966, a move to Shakhty (Rostov Region) proved pivotal, as he developed his unique training system, which led to him becoming a prize-winner at the USSR Championship in 1968.