Bob Bednarski

Robert L. Bednarski (April 5, 1944 – February 22, 2004) was an American heavyweight weightlifter. He set 12 world record in 1968–69 and won three medals at the world championships, including a gold in 1969.[1]

Robert Bednarski
Personal information
NationalityAmerican
BornApril 5, 1944
Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.
DiedFebruary 22, 2004 (aged 59)
Springfield, Massachusetts, U.S.
Sport
SportOlympic weightlifting
Medal record
Representing  United States
World Weightlifting Championships
1966 East Berlin +90 kg
1969 Warsaw -110 kg
1970 Columbus -110 kg

Career

During his career, Bednarski won five national championships and set 12 ratified world records. He was relatively small for heavyweight weightlifter and relied on his agility. In 1966, he placed second at the world championships, but during the 1967 Pan American Games suffered a career-threatening elbow injury. He recovered, and the next year set two world records at the national championships. At the 1968 US Olympic Trials he placed third, and was not selected for the Olympic team. He won the world title the next year, and placed third in 1970. In December 1969, Bednarski and three other weightlifters associated with the 1968 Summer Olympics met with President Richard Nixon for seven minutes at the White House along with Pennsylvania congressman George Atlee Goodling.[2] In 1983, he was inducted into the United States Weightlifting Federation Hall of Fame.[3]

Family

Bednarski was born in Hartford, Connecticut, to parents John and Helen, and had three brothers, John, Gary, and Richard, and three sisters, Judie Valois, Carol Ferrelli, and Brenda Paris. He was married to Kathy (Gacek) for 29 years. They had a son Bobby and a daughter Sheryl. Bednarski loved animals, and had three poodles.[3]

Legacy

The Barksi Snatch is named after Bednarski, a challenging movement that includes snatching the weight three times from the hip without dropping the bar or using the assistance of straps around the hands.[4]

References
  1. "Robert Bednarski". chidlovski.net. Arthur R. Chidlovski. Retrieved September 23, 2018.
  2. "President Richard Nixon's Daily Diary" (PDF). White House. December 1, 1969. p. 2. Retrieved September 22, 2018.
  3. "Obituary of Robert L. "Bob" Bednarksi". The Hartford Courant. February 29, 2004. Retrieved January 28, 2013 – via Legacy.com.
  4. "Barski Snatch". Catalyst Athletics. Retrieved September 23, 2018.


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