Arkady Vorobyov

Who was Arkady Vorobyov?

Arkady Nikitich Vorobyov was a Russian Soviet middle-heavyweight, who won two Olympic gold medals in weightlifting.

Arkady Vorobyov was born in the village of Mordovo, Tambov Oblast. He took part in the German-Soviet War, serving in the Marines. After the war he worked on the restoration of the Odessa sea port and cleared the adjoining area of water of mines as a diver. There Vorobyov got acquainted with the weightlifting, the first competition being the weightlifting championship of the sea port. He trained at Armed Forces sports society.

He was the World Champion in 1953-55, 1957 and 1958, European Champion in 1950, 1953–55, 1958, competing in the light-heavyweight and middle-heavyweight categories. Between 1950 and 1960 Vorobyov set 26 World Records in weightlifting.

He was a member of the CPSU between 1954 and 1991.

Vorobyov was not just a sportsman, but also a remarkable scientist. During his sports career he graduated from the Medical Institute; defended a dissertation for the Candidate of Science degree afterwards, in 1962. In 1970 he defended a dissertation for the Doctor of Medical Science degree at the Institute of Aviation and Space Medicine in Moscow. Since 1977 Vorobyov was the rector of the Moscow Oblast Institute of Physical Culture and Sports.