Russia Powerlifter Drops Weight on His Chest, Reportedly Dies. What Were the Spotters Doing?
Horrible tragedy in Russia: This powerlifter, trying to press an estimated 350 pounds, dropped the weight on his chest and according to Red Hot Russia, died.
According to eyewitness, the sportsman used unsafe (banned) technique called “open grip” [ed: possibly related to the position of thumb while holding the bar]. Already during the training session he had the weight of 160 kg slipping from his hands, but then spotters managed to hold the bar.
During the competition, however, the spotters did not succeed to catch the bar in time. Everything happened very quickly. With the torn diaphragm and broken ribs the sportsman was brought to hospital.
UPDATE: The injury appeared to be fatal. Igor died in hospital from heart concussion.
If that description is true – the lifter previous let less weight slip, but spotters were able to catch it – what could the spotters have been thinking? The screen grab on Red Hot Russia shows one spotter just frozen with his hands down while the weight crushed the kid’s chest. Awful. [via Cartmaniak]
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92 Responses to “Russia Powerlifter Drops Weight on His Chest, Reportedly Dies. What Were the Spotters Doing?”
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August 31st, 2012 at 9:54 AM
Poor Igor.
August 31st, 2012 at 9:56 AM
Uggggggggggh.
August 31st, 2012 at 9:58 AM
In Soviet Russia, dumbbell lifts you.
August 31st, 2012 at 10:00 AM
This is seriously the video of the death? Not watching.
August 31st, 2012 at 10:02 AM
•_•) Looks like this Igor
( •_•)>⌐■-■
(⌐■_■) Is no more.
YYYYYYYYEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH
/made this joke 2 days ago?!?
August 31st, 2012 at 10:02 AM
Yikes. Pause it at the :14 mark…..
August 31st, 2012 at 10:03 AM
Count me out too.
August 31st, 2012 at 10:03 AM
•_•) Big man lift no bribe
( •_•)>⌐■-■
(⌐■_■) KBG drop iron like curtain
DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
August 31st, 2012 at 10:06 AM
That was fucking terrifying.
August 31st, 2012 at 10:07 AM
I understand having a healthy lifestyle, but what exactly is the point of trying to lift insane amount of weight? I see these people at the gym trying to lift 80-100 pound dumbbells, and it’s just so pointless. Why would you want to get that big?
August 31st, 2012 at 10:07 AM
there is no death in this video.
after the drop, he sits up, but is clearly hurt.
he later died at the hospital.
August 31st, 2012 at 10:08 AM
Looks like this Russian….
/sunglasses
…. died of a heart concussian
//YYYYYYEAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!
///best one yet
////still fuckin shitty
August 31st, 2012 at 10:09 AM
I only made it to the 6 second mark and decided I couldn’t do it.
August 31st, 2012 at 10:10 AM
The right side of the bar collapsing his chest stopped me in my tracks.
August 31st, 2012 at 10:10 AM
I watched the video. It’s not gory. Quit being such pussies.
August 31st, 2012 at 10:12 AM
Was it necessary to show the video? I was completely fine with the stock image of the bench on the main page, but why did you have to kick it up a notch? Seeing the injury that ultimately leads to death is just as bad as actually seeing them die.
August 31st, 2012 at 10:12 AM
August 31st, 2012 at 10:13 AM
You know, you could actually not watch the video, right?
/MOCK OUTRAGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
August 31st, 2012 at 10:13 AM
I disagree. Just don’t watch it dude.
August 31st, 2012 at 10:14 AM
What’s the point of running 26.2 miles? What’s the point of watching movies or sports?
August 31st, 2012 at 10:14 AM
How about instead of the video which led to this guys death we can have a picture of an attractive weight lifter.
August 31st, 2012 at 10:15 AM
Two years ago, I had a neighbor die while he was bench pressing at a local gym. Didn’t have a spotter and iirc he either torn or compressed an artery in his neck. 40 year old gym rat with a couple of kids.
August 31st, 2012 at 10:16 AM
And seriously, why would you ever not grip your thumb around the bar? There is absolutely no benefit.
August 31st, 2012 at 10:17 AM
[Note: Since this dude died, here is a photo of Holly Mangold wearing a bikini]
August 31st, 2012 at 10:18 AM
What’s the deal with airplane peanuts?
August 31st, 2012 at 10:19 AM
Wow, talk about misrepresenting an argument. I’m not telling people to stop lifting weight. But you could do 40-50 pound dumbbell curls and still have a strong physique. This guy was a professional powerlifter so I can understand him pushing the boundary, but if your a accountant at Deloitte doing 100 pound curls, what you are really saying is that you have a small penis. You lifting 350 pounds isn’t going to help you crunch those numbers any faster.
August 31st, 2012 at 10:19 AM
When I eventually die (assumption), don’t ever link to my spat with Boeheim, which assuredly will have been responsible for my eventual death.
August 31st, 2012 at 10:20 AM
Nah, not going to watch this regardless if he dies during or immediately after. And spotting actually is pretty hard, guys hate any kind of help and weight when it drops will drop fast.
August 31st, 2012 at 10:21 AM
I think this is more appropriate for this wwek.
August 31st, 2012 at 10:21 AM
Ok, the second sentence is a bit much, but the marathon analogy holds. It’s just another way to set a goal for yourself and work towards that goal.
August 31st, 2012 at 10:21 AM
Here you go
August 31st, 2012 at 10:22 AM
At least toss a hot shot putter in there
/shudders
August 31st, 2012 at 10:23 AM
People still use these?
August 31st, 2012 at 10:23 AM
I lift things up and put them down.
August 31st, 2012 at 10:23 AM
Trying to catch 400+ pounds of free-falling weight? Do you have to troll every death?
August 31st, 2012 at 10:23 AM
I do basically agree with you. I changed my workouts for that exact reason, but in my daily life, it doesn’t matter whether I can bench 200 or 300 lbs.
But I can understand why someone would want to challenge themselves with that metric, if they so choose.
August 31st, 2012 at 10:24 AM
The last time I maxed out on a bench it was at four fifteen and I had three power lifter roid monkeys spotting me, I refused to let my normal partner spot, I was fucking terrified of this exact thing happening. Jesus.
August 31st, 2012 at 10:27 AM
To get to the other side?
/most marathons share a start-finish point
August 31st, 2012 at 10:29 AM
Taking up long distance running as an amateur is totally fine. As long as you don’t have pre-existing heart conditions, it has numerous health benefits that can help you on your day to day life. Being more energetic, having more stamina, building up a stronger heart. But sorry, no one is going to convince me that a weekend warrior MUST be able to do 100 pound curls.
August 31st, 2012 at 10:30 AM
I still lift, but not nearly like I did in my 20′s or early 30′s. I couldn’t even tell you what I would max out at in any given exercise. I stopped caring about that years ago.
Probably one of the biggest reasons I try to stay fit now is so I don’t eat and drink my way into having to buy new clothes for work.
August 31st, 2012 at 10:31 AM
To announce that you have won a war and promptly die.
/Pours one out for Pheidippides
August 31st, 2012 at 10:32 AM
It’s not apples to apples, though.
The strength required to do a 100 pound dumbbell curl (with proper form) would probably be analogous to those dudes who run ultra-marathons. And those are not for weekend warriors either.
August 31st, 2012 at 10:32 AM
And now you’re changing your argument. First you said, “what exactly is the point of trying to lift insane amount of weight?” and I was just trying to explain why someone would want to push themselves to reach a goal. Nobody said they MUST do it.
August 31st, 2012 at 10:32 AM
Well considering the bicep is one of the most worthless muscles on the body and curls are the favorite workout of vane douchebags who only care about their “guns,” yea, you’re dead on.
August 31st, 2012 at 10:34 AM
V-backs, on the otherhand…
/J-Mac
August 31st, 2012 at 10:34 AM
He died of a broken heart.
August 31st, 2012 at 10:35 AM
That was more of a rhetorical question. I know they are trying to reach a goal. I’m saying that goal is stupid.
August 31st, 2012 at 10:37 AM
haha, oh man.
That video was terrifying. Jesus.
August 31st, 2012 at 10:37 AM
Different strokes for different folks.
August 31st, 2012 at 10:39 AM
•_•) Iqor think have Yuri Gagarin bear heart
( •_•)>⌐■-■
(⌐■_■) vanity crush him like foe of Stalin
DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
August 31st, 2012 at 10:39 AM
Yeah, let’s just agree to disagree. No one will ever convince me that weekend warriors developing popcorn muscle is for any other reason than to cover up other insecurities.
August 31st, 2012 at 10:40 AM
I’m very curious to see what it’s like to dumbbell curl 100 pounds. Because that’s a lot of fucking weight for such a small muscle.
Litmus test: When a guy’s biceps are bigger than his thighs, then you’ve got a brah who enjoys his brahcep curls.
August 31st, 2012 at 10:40 AM
That video was terrifying. Jesus.
That video is why I drink instead of lifting weights.
August 31st, 2012 at 10:41 AM
Because that’s a lot of fucking weight for such a show muscle.
August 31st, 2012 at 10:41 AM
/Pours one out for Pheidippides
Yes
August 31st, 2012 at 10:42 AM
Yup.
August 31st, 2012 at 10:42 AM
I don’t disagree.
August 31st, 2012 at 10:44 AM
I haven’t maxed on bench since 10th grade gym class because it was required for a grade.
August 31st, 2012 at 10:46 AM
I’d argue that ultra-marathons have more health benefits, if done right. UMs can be pretty risky for some people, but dramatically increased muscle mass is not predictive of longer life at all, I don’t think. You’d have to imagine that increased CV fitness, is.
August 31st, 2012 at 10:49 AM
I’ve ran a few hlf marathons and I have no desire to do anything more than that. Hell, I barely have the time to do what little bit of running and lifting that I do now.
August 31st, 2012 at 10:49 AM
Was planning to run yesterday, but instead I got home, fired up the grill, had a beer, grilled some awesome chicken (worcestershire sauce, pepper, garlic, salt, red pepper, olive oil, shake it up, throw it on a hot grill for a few minutes each side, then down to low for 10 min or so). Worked in the yard to get ready for the start of campfire season, and that’s about it.
Never once did I wish I was lifting weights instead.
August 31st, 2012 at 10:50 AM
#Endomondo has been lonely lately.
August 31st, 2012 at 10:50 AM
looks like he should’ve taken off…
/sunglasses
…a kill-ogram.
/DAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!
August 31st, 2012 at 10:51 AM
Nah, we’ve hung out three times so far this week, probably spend some time together this weekend.
August 31st, 2012 at 10:51 AM
I’d argue that ultra-marathons have more health benefits, if done right. UMs can be pretty risky for some people, but dramatically increased muscle mass is not predictive of longer life at all, I don’t think. You’d have to imagine that increased CV fitness, is.
Definitely see your point. I just wonder how many people die per year weightlifting compared to marathon running. I’d be interested in seeing the numbers for number of “hardcore” weightlifters vs number of marathon runners as well. Which do you think has more?
August 31st, 2012 at 10:52 AM
Uggh, some barely coordinated kid with Cee Lo arms would totally crush me and I would want to bro down.
August 31st, 2012 at 10:52 AM
I’ve run 6 or 7 halfs Mullet, and ran a full this year, and it took over my life. It’s just too big a time commitment, and you have to change when you sleep/go out/drink/nutrition. If my wife wasn’t a runner (so that some we spent a lot of time running together) it would have been a miserable experience.
August 31st, 2012 at 10:54 AM
In my experience, marathoners are dipshits. But so are these guys.
August 31st, 2012 at 10:54 AM
You better get that shit in early Saturday. It’s kickoff weekend, buckwheat. You better be posted up on the couch or in front of a grill.
August 31st, 2012 at 10:57 AM
That’s the shit I see all the time at LA Fitness. Have fun with your decrepit walking by age 40, assface. Strength, stability and posture starts and ends in the core (abs, hips, thighs, hammies, lower back).
August 31st, 2012 at 10:59 AM
/team glamour muscles…is today curl day? trick question, every day is curl day.
August 31st, 2012 at 11:06 AM
That video is disgusting. It almost made me
/sunglasses
gulag
YEEEEEEEEEEEEEAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
August 31st, 2012 at 11:13 AM
I’d bet more marathoners die doing the sport. There are many more distance runners, (vs weightlifting at an intense enough level), and more who are probably not adequately trained.
That said, I bet the long-term sequelae of strain to the heart, and drugs, is far more prevalent in weightlifters. There are a lot of co-morbidities to massive weight gain, even if it’s mostly muscle. HGH and increased testosterone use can really fuck up the heart. There’s a reason why NFL players and wrestlers all die early, and I’d be absolutely terrified of being that big, or putting crazy shit in my body to get that big. The worst most marathoners have to worry about (who don’t have an undetected heart problem already) is bad knees.
August 31st, 2012 at 11:14 AM
and motorists.
August 31st, 2012 at 11:14 AM
Running early in morning wins everything. You feel fantastic, no coop, for the rest of the day and even eat better, knowing how hard you worked the first part of your day. And its peaceful
August 31st, 2012 at 11:17 AM
The first study I found http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22525769
1:57,000 marathoners have sudden cardiac arrest, and about 3/9 of them die. Marathons are also likely to have AEDs and trained EMTs on site, which saves a lot of lives. Most power lifters I know wouldn’t be able to open the box.
August 31st, 2012 at 11:17 AM
…. and lifting early in the morning. Great way to start the day.
August 31st, 2012 at 11:17 AM
+1 kicked car
August 31st, 2012 at 11:19 AM
You’re also 3x (or so) more likely to have a heart attack in AM vs PM
August 31st, 2012 at 11:21 AM
Yeah, blood is a lot thicker in the early AM
August 31st, 2012 at 11:21 AM
You’re also 3x (or so) more likely to have a heart attack in AM vs PM
Don’t think this applies for me
August 31st, 2012 at 11:22 AM
None of this is true.
August 31st, 2012 at 11:25 AM
I don’t run in the morning as much as I used to but I agree with PeerLeesPrices – runner’s high first thing in the morning is almost as good as getting some vag to cure your morningwood.
August 31st, 2012 at 11:28 AM
Not according to Barnwell.
August 31st, 2012 at 11:28 AM
Cortisol is higher in the morning too, which affects it also. I love when I can actually run in the morning though. For most people, it’s not much of a worry.
August 31st, 2012 at 11:29 AM
+ a million.
my wife gets up early to run, comes back and is always in a good mood. an even better solution and doesn’t involve me actually running
August 31st, 2012 at 12:08 PM
And the worst impediment of them all — runner’s trots.
August 31st, 2012 at 12:29 PM
Spencer, you were sorely missed in TBLAD last night during SC-Vandy. You need to do a running Ol’ Bawcoach commentary on here every time Sarkalina is on TV.
August 31st, 2012 at 1:05 PM
Probably one of the biggest reasons I try to stay fit now is so I don’t eat and drink my way into having to buy new clothes for work.
This.
I’ve ran a few hlf marathons and I have no desire to do anything more than that. Hell, I barely have the time to do what little bit of running and lifting that I do now. sic
And this. I know some marathoners who have toes that are barely connected.
August 31st, 2012 at 1:48 PM
1/3 stile project?
August 31st, 2012 at 1:54 PM
Ok, the second sentence is a bit much, but the marathon analogy holds. It’s just another way to set a goal for yourself and work towards that goal.
I do basically agree with you. I changed my workouts for that exact reason, but in my daily life, it doesn’t matter whether I can bench 200 or 300 lbs.
But I can understand why someone would want to challenge themselves with that metric, if they so choose.
i love st. bear agreeing with himself
August 31st, 2012 at 2:00 PM
I couldn’t even tell you what I would max out at in any given exercise. I stopped caring about that years ago.
Probably one of the biggest reasons I try to stay fit now is so I don’t eat and drink my way into having to buy new clothes for work.
all this for me, and the added motivation to be confident to put on swim trunks so the kids can go swimming whenever they want