June 16, 1955, Moscow, Russia – Legendary Paul Anderson of Team USA, nicknamed as “Miracle of Nature” for his phenomenal strength, is competing during the USA vs. USSR Olympic weightlifting match at the Green Theater in Moscow.
In Moscow, Anderson’s opponent in the match in the 90+kg class was Alexey Medvedev of Team USSR:
1 Paul Anderson 517,5 = 182,5 + 142,5 + 192,5
2 Alexey Mtdvedev 452,5 = 147,5 + 135,0 + 170,0
It was the first ever visit of the American sports teams to Russia during the Cold War time. It was a common routine back then that the foreign nationals were followed and observed by the Soviet secret police. In 1955, for a different reason, thousands of Russian spectators were following Paul Anderson in Moscow to get a glimpse of the Miracle of Nature, the strongest men they’ve ever seen!
He first snatched 200 kg in 1976
Khristo Plachkov (1953-2009) of Asenovgrad, Bulgaria was truly a legend in the history of Olympic weightlifting...