Topic: Discussion of Abajiev Interview & Video Lecture

[Steve Gough]

E pluribus unim

[Ivo Peychev]

I am new here and could not find this interview. I just want to share a few words about Ivan Abajiev. He had been through many hard moments in his career. There was a time where some people in Bulgarian WL claimed his system was wrong. He was forced to leave Bulgaria in order to profess his system. It is really sad. He still has lots of critics here. Those people thought his system could work only during Communism based on dispcipline and incredible work. During Communism we had a wide spread system for preparing young athletes. For example in my town with population of 40 000 we had 30-40 youngsters doing WL based on special scheme. They visited a special sports school not like other regular students. Government spent a lot of money for winter and summer camps for those youngsters. We do not have those schools now and our (in my town) WL team is gone since 1995. A lot of other small teams closed down. Goverment do not spend that money for WL any longer. It is down hill, kind o,f these  days.

[Chris Ⓐ LeRoux]

Ivan, thanks for the comments. The Abajiev interview is at Arthur Chidlovski's site- Lift Up:

http://www.chidlovski.net/liftup/a_articles_menu.asp

Regards

[Rob Macklem]

I know of some perceived problems with the Bulgarian system in North America, but why would the system be wrong in Bulgaria? Can you explain?
interesting your comments of No $ and No sports school= kind of downhill. That doesn't suprise me. How much of the success is due to one man (Abadjiev)? You can train a successor, but will he be Abadjiev? Lets hear some of your opinions.

[Ivo Peychev]

Ivan, thanks for the comments. The Abajiev interview is located in our interview forum on the main page:
http://www.chidlovski.net/liftup/a_articles_menu.asp

Regards

Thanks, Chris. I am very curious about this interview.

[Ivo Peychev]

I know of some perceived problems with the Bulgarian system in North America, but why would the system be wrong in Bulgaria? Can you explain?
interesting your comments of No $ and No sports school= kind of downhill. That doesn't suprise me. How much of the success is due to one man (Abadjiev)? You can train a successor, but will he be Abadjiev? Lets hear some of your opinions.

Abajiev's critics think that the system can work no longer in Bulgaria because after Communism failed its principles such as hard work, strict discipline, long winter and summer training camps, lots of resources, human and financial are no longer available. They think nowaday athletes are not willing to go to one-two months camps with 3 times per day training. More free regime of training and things like this.

Our WL is definetely downhill. Before WL was one of priority sports in Bulgaria. System was very professional with lots of human and financial resourses. At last European championship we had only one male champion. And we do not have many young athletes coming to replace the "old guns". The other problem is that some do not believe in Abadjiev' s system. They do not think he was the reason for our success in the past. You know we are invlove in most of doping issues. They blame Abadjiev for those doping scandals. So, they do not want to learn from Abadjiev. Including some of the athletes that Abadjiev built. It is kind of fashionable to deny everyting that was accomplished during Communism era. Those people put some politics in sports which is wrong in my humble opinion. They think Abadjiev belongs to the past. I am not sure I could explain that clearly.

[Terry Thompson]

~ Hey, Ivo! . . .  :)

 ~~ It's your old pal, Terry!  If you see any good newspaper articles on WL Bulgarian Champs, promising young Lifters,  or Bulgarian Training, PLEASE start a thread!  But please translate to English, first - Ha, ha! -  I cannot read Bulgarian!  I am anxious to know of Bulgaria's chances at the Senior Worlds, this year!

 ~~ Since athletes of all the former "Communist Block" nations are getting BIGGER, I'd like to see the IWF revise weight classes to accommodate HEAVIER athletes.  What are your thoughts on this?  What do think about those big Russian Women?  Their Men aren't doing bad, either!

[Rob Macklem]

IVO,

Thanks for your insights into their system. I hope you can give us periodic updates as to whats happening in the world of Olympic lifting in Bulgaria. I've had interesting discussions with a former Jr lifter from the Bulgarian system who lives in Victoria BC.