Atanas Kirov

Atanas Kirov (Bulgarian: Атанас Киров, 24 September 1946 – 27 January 2017) was a Bulgarian bantamweight weightlifter. He was a three-time World Champion, winning the bantamweight title consecutively from 1973 to 1975. Kirov won four European titles, winning the bantamweight class in 1969 and 1973–75. He also earned a World silver medal in 1969. Kirov set two official world records in the total, with 257.5 kg in September 1973 in Havana, Cuba; and 260.0 kg in February 1974 in his hometown of Burgas. For his achievements he was made an honorary citizen of Burgas. Kirov was responsible for starting the long-line of great Bulgarian lifters, especially in the lighter classes. He was born on September 24, 1946, in Burgas. He began competing in 1962 at the Chernomorets Club with coach Ilya Babachev, later transferred to Neftochimic Burgas. Only a 156 cm tall competitor, fitting perfectly into the bantam scales, he dominated the home scene for a decade. At the 1968 Olympics he took 7th place (335 kg). Then came September 1969 and the World and European Championships in Warsaw. 14 competitors took part in the bantam. The press was won by Földi with 125 kg, Kirov was third with 107.5 kg. The snatch was dominated by Trebicki (107.5 kg), second was Földi with 105 kg and Kirov registered 102.5 kg. In the clean and jerk Földi and Trebicki got zero and dropped, Kirov lifted 137.5 kg and that was enough for the European title (347.5 kg). He was second in the world behind Mohamed Nassiri (360 kg). In the World Championships in 1971 Kirov finished 5th (352.5 kg). At the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich he was fourth with a Bulgarian record of 362.5 kg. Between 1973 and 1975, Kirov won the World Championships and started the era of domination of Bulgarian weightlifting: 1973 (110 + 147.5 = 257.5 kg), 1974 (110 + 145 = 255 kg) and 1975 (110 + 145 = 255 kg). His last World championships was in Stuttgart 1977 when he finishеd 9th. He competed in the 1968 and 1972 Summer Olympics and placed seventh and fifth, respectively.

Atanas Kirov

At the 1969 World Weightlifting Championships
Personal information
Born	(1946-09-24)24 September 1946 Burgas, Bulgaria
Died	27 January 2017(2017-01-27) (aged 70) Sofia, Bulgaria
Height	156 cm (5 ft 1 in)
Weight	56 kg (123 lb)
Sport
Sport	Weightlifting
Club	Neftochimic Burgas
Medal record Representing Bulgaria World Weightlifting Championships 1969 Warsaw -56 kg 1973 Havana -56 kg 1974 Manila -56 kg 1975 Moscow -56 kg European Weightlifting Championships 1969 Warsaw -56 kg 1973 Madrid -56 kg 1974 Verona -56 kg 1975 Moscow -56 kg Balkan Weightlifting Championships 1968 Yambol -56 kg 1969 Bucharest -56 kg 1973 Athens -56 kg 1974 Burgas -56 kg Danube Cup 1967 Bratislava -56 kg 1970 Sofia -56 kg 1973 Havirov -56 kg 1975 Donaueschingen -56 kg 1972 Budapest -60 kg 1969 Bucharest -56 kg Bulgarian Weightlifting Championships 1967 Sofia -56 kg 1968 Sofia -56 kg 1969 Sofia -56 kg 1970 Sofia -56 kg 1972 Sofia -56 kg 1975 Yambol -56 kg 1976 Dimitrovgrad -60 kg 1977 Yambol -56 kg 1979 Sofia -56 kg 1966 Veliko Tarnovo -60 kg 1971 Sofia -60 kg 1973 Vidin -60 kg 1965 Asenovgrad -56 kg