Ivan Chakarov

Ivan Chakarov (Bulgarian: Иван Чакъров), also known as "James Dean" of weightlifting, born 1966, is a Bulgarian world class weightlifter who won gold medals in the 91 kg class at the 1993 World Weightlifting Championships in Melbourne, Australia and in the 90 kg class at the 1991 European Weightlifting Championships in Władysławowo, Poland. He also competed in the men's middle heavyweight event at the 1992 Summer Olympics. Chakarov won European Cup with the team of Bulgaria in Angers 1988 and Sofia 1989. He began training in 1979 at the Chernomorets Burgas Club. His first coach is Konstantin Darov. Chakarov competed for Chernomorets until 1985. After that, until the end of his long and successful career, he competed only for CSKA Sofia. His personal coaches were Andon Nikolov, Rumen Alexandrov and Neno Terziyski. Chakarov has set two world records.

Ivan Chakarov

Personal information
Nationality	Bulgarian
Born	26 November 1966 (1966-11-26) (age 57) Bulgaria
Weight	94 kg (207 lb) (1998)
Sport
Country	Bulgaria
Sport	Weightlifting
Event(s)	90 kg (1987-1992) 91 kg (1993-1997) 94 kg (1998)
Club	CSKA
Coached by	Ivan Abadjiev
Medal record Men's Weightlifting Representing Bulgaria World Championships 1993 Melbourne – 91 kg 1987 Ostrava – 90 kg 1990 Budapest – 90 kg 1991 Donaueschingen – 90 kg 1989 Athens – 90 kg European Championships 1991 Wladyslawowo – 90 kg 1988 Cardiff – 90 kg 1998 Riesa – 94 kg 1989 Athens – 90 kg 1990 Aalborg – 90 kg 1992 Szekszard – 90 kg 1993 Sofia – 91 kg 1994 Sokolov – 91 kg IWF World Cup 1989 Melbourne – 90 kg 1990 Varna – 90 kg 1991 Varna – 90 kg 1991 Meissen – 90 kg EWF European Team Cup 1988 Angers – 90 kg 1989 Sofia – 90 kg Junior World Championships 1986 Donaueschingen – 82,5 kg Junior European Championships 1986 Donaueschingen – 82,5 kg Bulgarian Championships 1987 Yambol – 90 kg 1988 Sliven – 90 kg 1994 Shumen – 91 kg 1995 Asenovgrad – 91 kg 1997 Asenovgrad – 99 kg Bulgaria Team Championships 1987 Plovdiv – 90 kg Bulgarian Junior&Youth Championships 1986 Gorna Oryahovitsa – 82,5 kg 1983 Silistra – 48 kg

Personal Bests

Weightlifting

• Snatch: 187.5 kg
• Clean and Jerk: 230 kg
• Best Total: 417.5 kg (480 sinclair) (About the 10th best weightlifter ever)

Other exercises

• Power Clean: 180.0 kg (Strict), 200 kg (some depth)
• Back Squat: 1RM: 330.0 kg (Some sources say 350 kg, though it is likely to be inaccurate, a 335 kg value is more likely provided from other sources, but he definitely squatted 330 in the back squat). 3RM: 285 kg
• Front Squat: 280.0 kg
• Clean: 230.0 kg (Accomplished twice at the 1987 world weightlifting championships)
• Military Press: 120.0 kg
• Bench Press: 150.0 kg
• Clean Pull: 290.0 kg
• Power Snatch (above Parallel) : 150.0 kg
• Snatch Pull: 250.0 kg
• Deadlift: 310.0 kg

No-No-No Squats

Chakarov was exceptional in the Back Squat, and squatted 270 kg (595.25 lbs) for 3 deep repetitions at the 1993 World Weightlifting Championships. This feat became well known as the "No-No-No" squat, as Chakarov did not use a lifting belt, knee wraps, or spotters for this attempt.

External links

• Ivan Chakarov Biography and Olympic Results