Klokov & Akkaev in Camp Chekhov before London 2012

Here is a gem while we are waitign for the 105kg.

A 20 minute video featuring Dmitry Klokov and Khadzhimurat Akkaev in camp Chekhov taken on or just before July 20th, when the whole team was there and getting ready to leave for London.

Has lots of interviews and seems to look ahead of their battle on Monday August 6th.

As always if you speak Russian I (and I think every ATG reader) would appreciate a translation of the key parts.

Update: Translation Complete! Huge Thanks to Stef , S8uats_Fix_9verything and Soiren. You make the site awesome!

Host: The one on one battle, or the duel, is the most interesting thing sports offers. Yadi Yadi Yada, we need heroes with character … more platituteds and hyperbole.

(Begining of weightlifting footage)

Host: There is not other sport besides weightlifting where such a duel is between two of hours as is the case in 105kg between Klokov and Akkaev.
8 months ago at the world championships they clashed for the first time. It was an epic battle. Akkaev has three sucessfull lifts lifting 198 to Klokov’s 196. Everyone else, as though anyone remembers them, are far behind.The strauggle is one on one.

Klokov: That was probably my best performance in my career.

Interviewer: But you lost.

Klokov: You understand.It was after I had the injury and it was still wrapped up (inaudible). Dont touch.

Akkaev: We know each other very well. We know what the other is capable of. For example in the last championship he suprised me a bit so now I know that I should be aware of some magic tricks. Magic tricks I mean in the sense of the results, how much he lifts.

Klokov: I have said before I’ll say again that in Russia there is a lot of tallent.

Interviewer: More talanted than you? I mean talk about genetics your father was champion of the world.

Klokov: (laughs) Thats not talent im talking about talent.

Host: And thus in the second lift Klokov lifts 232 kg and surpasses his opponent on total weight. Everyting is decided on this next lift by Akkaev. In the end gold, and a world championship.

Interviewer: Talk to me about having you biggest oppoenent not be American or other but a teammate.

Akkaev: The Olympics is the kind of tournament where the important thing is the success of the country. If Dmitry lifts more than me then it is what it is. That is how sport is and how life is. But our country would be at the top. It is a little different in other tournaments. But in the Olympics if Dima wins gold, sure I will be dissapointed inside. That’s not a secret.

Interviewer: Then you would have to stay 4 more years.

Akkaev: It’s possible.

Klokov: I only have trouble when I compete against another Russian. Both times I’ve lost it has been to a russian. It’s because there is an added element of what people are saying behind your back.

Interviewer: They are saying something to you?

Klokov: Even if they don’t say it in words you can see it in their eyes and behavior.

Interviewer to David Rigert: How is their relationship with each other?

Rigert: They treat each other as opponenets. But not enemies.

Interviewer: But not friendly either?

Rigert: No not friendly.

Update: Here are the next 10 minutes:

Interviewer: So you are not friends?

Klokov: Do we need to be?

Interviewer: Why not?

Klokov: It helps us. Even in the last olympics I didnt really interact with my oppenents and I dont now. I think it helps. At least for me personally it helps.

Interviewer (to Rigert): There is respect there.

Rigert: Yes there is respect. You saw that in the world championships they shook hands and thanked each other for the competition, for the battle each said that without you I couldnt have reached this level.

(Start of training footage)

Host: Before tournaments such as the olympics Akkaev and Klokov train under the same roof. The entire time we were there they did not say one word to each other.
In glamourous dinners that may be unacceptable but this is a diefferent world, here there are the iron games and this is normal.

Klokov: There is no doubt we are very different people. For me, whatever I do it is important that there is a beuty to it. For him it is a little different you understand. Whatever we do we do with different mindsets. In my opinion.

Akkaev: I’ll reapeat it that we are completely different people.

Interviewer: Says some stupid stuff about Klokovs streching and how a few more of those creaks and they need to buy a new one. (He then talks about how to approach the the barbell, mostly BS. ‘The barbell is a living thing’…. that sort of stuff.)

(more training footage under music)

Interviewer: Talks to Akkaev about his hands and how they have such tough blisters. Then asks Klokov about all the wraps and their purpose. Klokov responds that basically to keep things warm which is also why he wears the jacket.

Interviewer jokes about the tear in his jacket and the ‘state of our champions’

Interviewer: They don’t even look alike here, Akkaev doesn’t need to lose weight.

Akkaev: I weigh 107kg, max 108kg. I don’t eat twice, and it drops to 106kg. In this regard, I have an advantage.

Klokov: I’ve learned not to eat to much. Earlier, I would get to 117+kg now, at MAX 112kg, 108kg

Interviewer: What are you eating?

Klokov: I eat very little, I drink a lot, a bucket… a minimum of 10 liters, I’m sure.

(Start footage of klokov in sauna)

Interviewer: The temperature right now is 70 celcius (over 150 degrees?). This is a serious temperature. We have a picture of Naim Suleyman a Legendary lifter. (Checks inside) Very Hot!!
I dont have to lose weight I look good.

Interviewer introduces himself to Klokov’s wife. Asks her some basic questions about weather or not she is scared to watch him lift. She says she is used to it. Says even their daughter is used to it.

Interviewer: If your daughter gets into lifting?

Wife: No, she wont.

Interviewer (about the poster on the wall): This is the greatest poster in the world. A poster of 2 time world champion Oksana Slivenko with a world record lift. It reads: “Not for Girls? Her name is in the history book and you continue to smoke, drink paint your nails and go to clubs”.

Interviewer (to Klokov): There was discussion about your daughter. What if she wanted to get into weightlifting? Would you stop her. To think, with such familty tradition.

Klokov: No, I probably souldn’t stop her but I would be afraid. My dad didn’t want me to be a lifter either. He wanted me to be smart (laughs) wanted me to study.

Interviewer: What about soccer?

Klokov: I played soccer.

Interviewer: Did you watch the Euro 2012.

Klokov: Yeah I did. I gotta say though I don’t understand the fans. (Refering to their reaction to the Russian team underachieving). I don’t understand people who just stand there in the stands and claim the things they say. I dont think any man, any athlete loses because they didn’t want it or played hard enough. i think they just couldn’t. That’s all.

up to (14:19)

Key Points From The rest of the video. :

(There is a lot of Joking about beards and shaving for the finals, learning how to unload the weights stuff like that)

Klokov says that he is not interested in the world championships and what happened in Paris. He doesnt care if we wins it again. The only thing missing is an Olympic gold for him.

Akkaev echos him saying that that is the only thing he cares about. It doesn’t matter to him to win more then once either. He just wants to be able to say he is Olympic Champion.

Interviewer: Talks about that clearly this is the only thing that matters to these men and there is no way for both of them to have it.

Akkaev talks about how there are two types of lifter those that can lift amazing numbers in the gym but can’t do shit in competition and those who may not lift monster numbers in training but do it in competition.

He says that he is one who can lift a lot in the gym and at least match it in a competition.
Says that he snatched 210kg recently and 245kg Clean and Jerk. Which is 18 kilos above the WR.

The host runs through the history of Akkaev in the 2008 Olympics. How he won bronze from group B.

Interviewer talks about how calm Akkaev is before he lifts and how none of his muscles move just before he starts.

Update: Video with English subtitles. Thanks Vladimir.

Or, since it is so long, we could translate it in 5 min segments in the comments…

Anyway, tell your Russian friends to chime in.

Thanks to Kevin for submitting this.

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  • Joe

    Id pay to have this translated. Love the way Klokov strips the bar at 11:54. Im gonna do it like that now. If only the where all 25s.

    Can anyone find those Adidas Ironwork IIIs anywhere? I take they have stopped producing them.

    • http://twitter.com/RoyLoganFSU Roy Logan

      thats how I strip the weight, after seeing klokov doing it that way

    • Jay

      Only strip one side this way, will be more difficult on the other. Just tip the bar over and then pull it out of the stack of plates. We always do it this way.

      Looks like Klokov had quite a bit of weight to get rid of while Akkaev was already done…Interesting. Maybe another small advantage.

      And Joe: No, I don’t thin they produce them anymore.

  • Pablo Lara

    Man, look at the size of both’s wrists…

  • steven

    This is awesome and it would be a shame if it wouldn’t be translated.
    Klokov looks awesomely jacked ! :o

  • Henri

    Hah, nice picture of Naim on the sauna door @10:15! Wish I knew what they were saying.

  • Böhlenius

    Avesome!!! I wish i speaked Russian =(

  • http://www.facebook.com/doogie.mcdougald Doogie McDougald

    I think every ATG reader should begin to learn Russian.

    • GregorATG

      And while we’re at it – Chinese wouldn’t be to o bad either.

  • S8uats_Fix_9verything

    Host: The one on one battle, or the duel, is the most interesting thing sports offers. Yadi Yadi Yada, we nned heroes with character … more platituteds and hyperbole.

    (Begining of weightlifting footage)

    Host: There is not other sport besides weightlifting where such a duel is between two of hours as is the case in 105kg between Klokov and Akkaev.
    8 months ago at the world championships they clashed for the first time. It was an epic battle. Akkaev has three sucessfull lifts lifting 198 to Klokov’s 196. Everyone else, as though anyone remembers them, are far behind.The strauggle is one on one.

    Klokov: That was probably my best performance in my career.
    Interviewer: But you lost.

    Klokov: You understand.It was after i had the injury and it was still wrapped up (inaudible). Dont touch.

    Akkaev: We know each other very well. We know what the other is capable of. For example in the last championship he suprised me a bit so now I know that I should be aware of some magic tricks. Magic tricks I mean in the sense of the results, how much he lifts.

    Klokov: I have said before I’ll say again that in Russia there is a lot of tallent.

    Interviewer: More talanted than you? I mean talk about genetics your father was champion of the world.

    Klokov: (laughs) Thats not talent im talking about talent.

    Host: And thus in the second lift Klokov lifts 232 kg and surpasses his opponent on total weight. Everyting is decided on this next lift by Akkaev. In the end gold, and a world championship.

    Interviewer: Talk to me about having you biggest oppoenent not be American or other but a teammate.

    Akkaev: The Olympics is the kind of tournament where the important thing is the success of the country. If Dmitry lifts more than me then it is what it is. That is how sport is and how life is. But out country would be at the top. It is a little different in other tournaments. But in the Olympics if Dima wins gold, sure i will be dissapointed inside. That’s not a secret.

    Interviewer: Then you would have to stay 4 more years.

    Akkaev: It’s possible.

    Klokov: I only have trouble when i compete against another Russian. Both times I’v lost it has been to a russian. It’s because there is an added element of what people are saying behind your back.

    Interviewer: THey are saying something to you?

    Klokov: Even if they dont say it in words you can see it in their eyes and behavior.

    Interviewer to coach: How is their relationship with each other?

    Coach: They treat each other as opponenets. But not enemies.

    Interviewer: But not friendly either?

    Coach: No not friendly.

    (5:18)

    • GregorATG

      Wow Thanks buddy

      • S8uats_Fix_9verything

        No problem. Whenever I’m procrastinating I am on ATG, so I figured I’d contribute.

    • S8uats_Fix_9verything

      (5:18)

      Interviewer: So you are not friends?

      Klokov: Do we need to be?

      Interviewer: Why not?

      Klokov: It helps us. Even in the last olympics I didnt really interact with my oppenents and I dont now. i think it helps. At least for me personally it helps.

      Interviewer (to coach): There is respect there.

      Coach: Yes there is respect. You saw that in the world championships they shook hands and thanked each other for the competition, for the battle each said that without you I couldnt have reached this level.

      (Start of training footage)

      Host: Before tournaments such as the olympics Akkaev and Klokov train under the same roof. THe entire time we were there they did not say one word to each other.
      In glamourous dinners that may be unacceptable but this is a diefferent world, here there are the iron games and this is normal.

      Klokov: There is no doubt we are very different people. For me, whatever I do it is important that there is a beuty to it. For him it is a little different you understand. Whatever we do we do with different mindsets. In my opinion.

      Akkaev: I’ll reapeat it that we are completely different people.

      Interviewer: Says some stupid stuff about Klokovs streching and how a few more of those creaks and they need to buy a new one. (He then talks about how to approach the the barbell, mostly BS. ‘THe barbell is a living thing’…. that sort of stuff.)

      (more training footage under music)

      Interviewer: Talks to Akkaev about his hands and how they have such tough blisters. Then asks Klokov about all the wraps and their purpose. Klokov responds that basically to keep things warm which is also why he wears the jacket.

      Interviewer jokes about the tear in his jacket and the ‘state of our champions’

      Interviewer: The differences continue. For Akkaev there is no weight to lose.

      Akkaev: I am 107 maybe 108 at most. If I skip a meal I go down to 106 (laughts). I guess that is an advantage for me in that matter.

      Klokov: I have to watch what I eat, I get up to 117 even up to 120 kg.

      Interviewer: What do you eat and avoid.

      Klokov: In general I eat very little and drink very little.

      (Start footage of klokov in sauna)

      Interviewer: The temperature right now is 70 celcius (over 150 degrees?). This is a serious temperature. We have a picture of Naim Suleyman a Legendary lifter. (Chekcs inside) Very Hot!!
      I dont have to lose weight i look good.

      Interviewer introduces himself to Klokov’s wife. Asks her some basic questions about weather or not she is scared to watch him lift. She says she is used to it. Says even their daughter is used to it.

      Interviewer: If your daughter gets into lifting?

      Wife: No, she wont.

      Interviewer (about the poster on the wall): This is the greatest poster in the world. A poster of 2 time world champion Oksana Slivenko with a world record lift. It reads: “Not for Girls? Her name is in the history book and you continue to smoke, drink paint your nails and go to clubs”.

      Interviewer (to Klokov): There was discussion about your daughter. What if she wanted to get into weightlifting? Would you stop her. To think, with such familty tradition.

      Klokov: No, I probably souldn’t stop her but I would be afraid. My dad didn’t want me to be a lifter either, He wanted me to be smart (laughs) wanted me to study.

      Interviewer: What about soccer.

      Klokov: I played soccer.

      Interviewer: Did you watch the Euro 2012.

      Klokov: Yeah I did. I gotta say though I don’t understand the fans. (Refering to their reaction to the Russian team underachieving). I don’t understand people who just stand there in the stands and claim the things they say. I dont think any man, any athlete loses because they didn’t want it or played hard enough. i think they just couldn’t. That’s all.

      (14:19)

    • S8uats_Fix_9verything

      Key Points From The rest of the video.
      (There is a lot of Joking about beards and shaving for the finals, learning how to unload the weights stuff like that)

      Klokov says that he is not interested in the world championships and what happened in Paris. He doesnt care if we wins it again. The only thing missing is an olympic gold for him.

      Akkaev echos him saying that that is the only thing he cares about. It doesnt matter to him to win more then once either, He just wants to be able to say he is Olympic Champion.

      Interviewer: Talks about that clearly this is the only thing that matters to these men and there is no way for both of them to have it.

      Akkaev talks about how there are two types of lifter those that can lift amazing numbers in the gym but can’t do shit in competition and those who may not lift monster numbers in training but do it in competition.

      He says that he is one who can lift a lot in the gym and at least match it in a competition.
      Says that he snatched 210 recently and 245 Clean and Jerk. Which is 18 pounds above the WR.

      The host runs through the history of Akkaev in the 2008 Olympics. How he won bronze from group B.

      Interviewer talks about how calm Akkaev is before he lifts and how none of his muscles move just before he starts.

  • S8uats_Fix_9verything

    I’ll do more in a bit, once I have time.

    • GregorATG

      Thanks so much for taking the time. Awesome name by the way.

  • loco

    This video looks great! Any chance we can have it re uploaded and add the subtitles in ?

  • Stef

    Aww, I missed S8uats_Fix_9verything’s post and re-did the first 5 min :( Anyways, I’ve gotten 5-10:40, so maybe we can split the remaining 15 min. Sorry for bad grammar, inaccuracies, etc…

    1vs1, or a dual, perhaps this is the most fascinating thing in sport. We need heroes with character, preferably eccentric, and preferably both. There probably aren’t any other disciplines in the Olympics where the main candidates for gold were both ours(Russian). Oly lifting in 105kg category is announced as such, Dmitry Klokov vs Khadzhimurat Akkayev. 8 months ago in the world championships at Paris, the clashed for the first time. It was a great battle. In the snatch, both make 3 successful attempts. In conclusion, Akkaev takes 198kg and Klokov 196kg. The rest, if anyone was considering them, were far behind, the battle continued 1vs1.
    Klokov: That is truly/probably my best performance of my sport career. –but you lost–well, I was already asked that, and after I received my injury, I almost quit, I couldn’t hold my (hands?), so after, don’t touch it, cause that’s bad(luck?).
    Akkaev: We know each other, we know who’s capable of what, though at the last championships he surprised me, so at this point in time, I understand I need to expect some surprises. Surprises- I mean his results and their additions, he took 428, next he’ll show more, so I’m expecting.
    Klokov: As a sportsman, I’ve said, and’ll say again, that in russia- not the soviet union- but in russia there are very many talented sportsmen –even more talented than you?– I never said I was talented, no one ever called me that –genetic memory? your dad was a world champion– but that’s not talent, I thought we were talking about talent…
    And so, the second exercise, Klokov take 232kg and pushes his opponent to the same weight. Everything will be decided in this attempt of Akkaev. Up is the gold medal of the world championship.
    –Does it matter to you, that your main competitor isn’t, let’s say, an american, not an enemy, but a friend on the team?– Akkaev: We’re on such a level of championships, where the priority are the interests of the country. I mean, roughly saying Dmitry is stronger than me, deep in our souls, we’ve all gotten used to being champions, its sport, its life, our country is at a high, …and the olympics are whole other level… so somewhere seep in my soul, I’ll have some pride/ego, not a secret — and you’ll have to stay for another 4 years– well, I don’t know…its possible
    Klokov:For me, the priority is russian — because with russians, I’ve only lost to Akkaev at the last championships and at one europe championship, I’ve only lost twice to russians, despite the fact that I’ve performed many times, and even though went against that belarussian three times, but I’ve never had this sport angriness, but the russians, they stimulate me, because I’ve never heard bad words against me from international lifters –but you’ve heard them from ours?– well, not personally, but –it spreads?– of course.

    –Do they have any relationship with each other?
    coach: Of rivals, but not enemies
    –but not friendly
    –not really

    –you’re not friends?
    Klokov: Is it necessary? –why not?– It helps, you know, … well, it helps me personally

    –but with respect for each other
    coach: with respect. at the last championships, they shook each other’s hands and thanked each other, to say without you, I wouldn’t have reached such a result.

    Before such tournaments as the olympics, Akkaev and Klokov train, of course in one hall. During the time we’ve been here, they haven’t said a single word to each other. At glamorous parties, this is nonsense, but here is a different world. The games here are iron, and this is normal.
    Klokov: a totally different world, absolutely …I try to do everythig beautifully, and globally, what we do, we do with different thoughts in our heads, as well as I understand
    Akkaev: once more repeat, completely different methods
    –the characteristic squeaking signifies, that several more of such stretches and here on the Chekhov base we’ll need to buy a new wall.
    What you cannot do in the hall, not in any circumstances, is to step over the bar, you cannot step over the bar. the bar and plates are a living thing, so you need to behave very touchingly, and gently with it.
    –Brother, can I say so, let’s rub, or cover together Akkaev: sure –everyone says that weightlifters’ clothes are soiled by this stuff Akkaev: all athletes are soiled by it, sweat .. etc –the hands are alright from it? its harmless? can I see your hands for a second? the hands of a weightlifter, take notice, even larger than the rowers, here they are even larger, here they are, working calousses
    That seems like a bit too much. Klokov: Just its scary looking. Those are wraps, and those are bands? Its the same, just its everywhere, and I wrap so that it keeps the heat. –and the sport costume (coat) too? so to keep heat?– weight is my main problem– no here’s the main problem in losing weight, this is how sports costumes fall apart on our champions. This is only after a warmup, what’ll happen to it after the workout…

    They don’t even look alike here, Akkaev doesn’t need to lose weight
    Akkaev: I weigh 107, max 108. I don’t eat twice, and it drops to 106. In this regard, I have an advantage.
    Klokov: I’ve learned not to eat to much. Earlier, I would get to 117+kg now, at MAX 112, 108 –what are you eating?– I eat very little, I drink a lot, a bucket… a minimum of 10 liters, I’m sure.

    Take off your shoes, 70 Celsius btw, thats a fairly serious temperature, the sauna is named in honor of Süleymanoglu. Champion in 83 in moscow. Legendary weightlifter. Ahh, the smell… as for me, I don’t need to lose weight, I’m quite slim.

    • GregorATG

      Great effort! Thanks Stef.

    • S8uats_Fix_9verything

      Hey, Can you do the last 10 minutes also. You are not as lazy as me lol, much more detailed. Or we can split it. Also Gregor the part about the weights (117 112 and also drinking very much not very little) is correct here, I typed it up wrong in my translation.

      • GregorATG

        Ok, going to change it.

  • Afferbeck

    Thanks for that translation, looking forward to the rest. I think it’s funny how huge this host looks, me must be 7 feet tall.

    Re plate stripping, this is my favourite example of it
    http://youtu.be/kAt8YLm2tPQ?t=3m10s

  • S8uats_Fix_9verything

    (5:18)

    Interviewer: So you are not friends?

    Klokov: Do we need to be?

    Interviewer: Why not?

    Klokov: It helps us. Even in the last olympics I didnt really interact with my oppenents and I dont now. i think it helps. At least for me personally it helps.

    Interviewer (to coach): There is respect there.

    COach: Yes there is respect. You saw that in the world championships they shook hands and thanked each other for the competition, for the battle. Each said that without you I couldnt have reached this level.

    (Start of training footage)

    Host: Before tournaments such as the olympics Akkaev and Klokov train under the same roof. The entire time we were there they did not say one word to each other.
    In glamourous dinners that may be unacceptable but this is a diefferent world, here there are the iron games and this is normal.

    Klokov: There is no doubt we are very different people. For me, whatever I do it is important that there is a beauty to it. For him it is a little different you understand. Whatever we do, we do with different mindsets. In my opinion.

    Akkaev: I’ll repeat it that we are completely different people.

    Interviewer: Says some stupid stuff about Klokovs streching and how a few more of those creaks and they need to buy a new one. (He then talks about how to approach the the barbell, mostly BS. ‘THe barbell is a living thing’…. that sort of stuff.)

    (more footage under music)

    Interviewer: Talks to Akkaev about his hands and how they have such tough blisters. Then asks Klokov about all the wraps and their purpose. Klokov responds that baskically to keep things warm which is also why he wears the jacket.

    Interviwer jokes about the tear in his jacket and the ‘state of out champions’

    Intervier: The differences continue. For Akkaev there is no weight to lose.

    Akkaev: I am 107 maybe 108 at most. If I skip a meal I go down to 106 (laughts). I guess that is an advantage for me in that matter.

    Klokov: I have to watch what I eat, I used to get up to 117 even up to 120 kg.

    Interviewer: What do you eat and avoid.

    Klokov: In general I eat very little and drink very little.

    (Start footage of klokov in sauna)

    Interviewer: The temperature right now is 70 celcius (over 150 degrees?). This is a serious temperature. We have a picture of Naim Suleyman a Legendary lifter. (Cheks inside) Very Hot!!
    I don’t have to lose weight, I look good.

    Interviewer introduces himself to kolkovs wife. Asks her some basic questions about weather or not she is scared to watch him lift. She says she is used to it. Says even their daughter is used to it.

    Interviewer: If your daughter gets into lifting?

    Wife: No, she wont.

    Interviewer (about the poster on the wall): This is the greatest poster in the world. A poster of 2 time World Champion Oksana Slivenko with a world record lift. It reads: “Not for Girls? Her name is in the history books and you continue to smoke, drink paint your nails and go to clubs”.

    Interviewer (to Klokov): There was discussion about your daughter. What if she wanted to get into weightlifting? Would you stop her. To think, with such familty tradition.

    Klokov: No, I probably wouldn’t stop her but I would be afraid. My dad didn’t want me to be a lifter either, He wanted me to be smart (laughs) wanted me to study.

    Interviewer: What about soccer.

    Klokov: I played soccer.

    Interviewer: Did you watch the Euro 2012.

    Klokov: Yeah I did. I gotta say though I don’t understand the fans. (Refering to their reaction to the Russian team ‘underachieving’). I don’t understand people who just stand there in the stands and say the things they say. I dont think any man, any athlete, loses because they didn’t want it or played hard enough. i think they just couldn’t. That’s all.

    (14:19)

  • Diane Lopez

    Oh! That’s just cool1

  • Soiren

    I will get the end of the video translated this evening, stand by:)

    • GregorATG

      Thanks Soiren, I think we have almost all done by now. But please look over and add details if you like.

      • Soiren

        It seems that i am late, but whatever:
        Klokov: Some time ago we were asked what do we need for the last training semester in here. I said: look, we had to go for an equipment last winter. We were placed in an old, frosty PAZ (http://i.imgur.com/zVb9P.jpg). We were going to fly to the Paris for Worlds in 10 days, you know? It is 8:00 AM, winter, you sit in a cold PAZ, while being in Russian national team and oil is more than 100$ for a barrel, and you ride through traffic jams, there are drafts everywhere and you think to yourself: “Why the hell do i need that damned equipment?”. And there are such things in everything. Well, after that talk we were given all new eqipment and others everyday usage things we asked for, but it was given to us after we already got in contest shape, not while we were getting there. And the funniest thing that they said we would have to give back all those things after training camp.
        Narrator talks about Klokov’s attention to small details. Then interviewer asks him about a size of his biceps and Klokov says he never measures it.
        Klokov: In training i only do things that are most related to weightlifting. Because wealth of my family depends on how i work in training hall. A career in sports may end in one day, you know. So i am 100% professional.
        Then Dmitry Klokov gives interviewer a quest to load one side of a bar the same way the other side is loaded. You can see it yourself, interviewer fatigues and breaks a sweat.
        Klokov’s C&J, 230 kg is shown. Commentator is the same person who takes an interview, by the way. He talks about his achievements and 1st place in 2005.
        Klokov: Injuries torture me. When i won Worlds, i thought that i would add more to my results, would work even more and harder, but a strive to records is like Titanic, and i drowned at some moment. There came some serious injuries, and in fact they had stopped getting me only by Beijing.
        Narrator: His results in last year’s championship Klokov calls perharps the best so far. And he doesn’t stress over the fact he didn’t win.
        Klokov: When you’re already not an average athlete, you don’t have as much thirst for the records. Every good start pleasures you. And the fact that i added so much to my best results after 2005 is more important than the loss. When you were World’s champion once, to get there another one becomes not interesting goal. You know, me and Khadzhimurat have won virtually all the championships: worlds, nationals.. Only Olympic can make you train hard and selflessly. That’s why we have added near 10 kilos to each lift. Both him and me only need one medal for the full collection, you know.
        Akkaev: …I agree. The same way it is not interesting to win Olympics more than once. You know, when you’re Olympic champion, there is no questions anymore.
        Narrator talks general words about how it is important for coaches to have them both be fully prepared before the great duel.
        Akkaev: there is a category of athletes who only lift big weights in training hall, we call them “hall athletes”. Abd then there is a category of them who can’t lift big in a training, but open themselfs in a competition, and they are very valueable. What about me, i can lift pretty big weights in training, but i almost always can lift that in a competition.
        He then talks about his huge PR’s of 210 kg snatch and 245 kg C&J, and says it is nearly 20 kilos over the WR.
        The story about his B group in 2008 is told.
        Akkaev: You know, as i get older i start to value things i have more. I resented for a while, and it is logical – i wanted to really compete, i wanted some different feelings. That smell of a victory, i wanted it. But then after a bit of feeling offended i realized that God gave me that opportunity to win Bronze and i did it.
        Interviewer says that it is amazing how Akkaev isn’t afraid of cameras and lift calmly in front of them. “Real champion.”
        “Right now it’s not just about duel between Akkaev and Klokov. It’s probably the most spectacular weightlifting event of London 2012.”
        Akkaev says, that he is not superstitious and he doesn’t afraid to shove a beard between competition. Klokov said that he shaved for this video and was like Lev Tolstoy in the morning. Then interviewer asks him if his wife likes it and asks: “Do you prickle?” Important thing here is, that in Russian that word is also means “to pin”, as in to pin needles, lol. He answers “No, she likes it” and laughs.
        Rigert says to interviewer that it draw (and who competes first as a result) is very important.
        Rigert: “They lift approximately the same, and we will announce the weights based on a certain scenario. But first we are going to go ahead of others, to fight off them. If we succeed, then the battle between our lifter will be.”
        Then there goes an announce of their event. There will not be a revenge.
        Sorry for possible spelling errors.

        • GregorATG

          Big Thanks again Soiren, I will add your parts into the post.

  • Joe

    Thanks to the guys for translating. Interesting about their diets, wonder how they train at such intensities on very little food.

  • http://www.facebook.com/wald.stone Wald Stone

    Do u suppose these guys will compete for gold in 4 years?

    • GregorATG

      4 years is a long time…

      They certainly have the heart for it. Hope their bodies will allow it.

  • Juan

    2:07…why would he touch him..

    • GregorATG

      .. You would touch Klokov too, admit it!

      • Juan

        haha, well, I would be somehow scared lol

  • http://www.facebook.com/2SoonJR Vlad ‘Broski’ Zakharov

    I have translated the video and put subtitles in it:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPqGA90pvdE&feature=youtu.be

    • GregorATG

      Thanks, added.