LOUTRAKI, GREECE - Continuing their winning ways, the Bulgarian team won three more classes at the European Weightlifting Championships. In the 85-kg category, Zlaten Vanev was fifth after the snatches today, with 167.5 kg, but that's not much of a hole for him. Vanev opened with 210 kg in the clean and jerk, for an easy success, and won the gold medals in the jerk and total with his second attempt, a never-in-doubt 215-kg lift. Instead of passing on his third attempt, Vanev called for a world record 218.5 kg, and was so relaxed about the attempt, he was talking on his cell phone just before coming out. It would have been a great lift, but it wasn't to be today, as he missed the clean. Later today, in the 94-kg category, Milen Dobrev won the gold in the snatch with three excellent attempts: 175, 180 and 182.5 kg. Dobrev stayed on his roll in the clean and jerk, opening with a good lift at 215 kg, and then won the gold medals in the jerk and total on his second attempt with 217.5 kg. Not ready to stop there, he took 222.5 kg on his third attempt, for another good lift. Yesterday, Georgi Markov held off a determined Reyhan Arabacioglu (Turkey), to win the 77-kg category via a 165-kg snatch and a 202.5-kg clean and jerk.

LOUTRAKI, GREECE - Bulgaria's Galabin Boevski came back with bang last night, posting a convincing win at the European Weightlifting Championships. Avenging his loss at last year's World Weightlifting Championships, Boevski opened with a somewhat shaky 150-kg snatch, made 155 with an adjustment on his second attempt, and then hit 157.5 kg on his final attempt, for the gold medal in the snatch. After opening with a 185-kg clean and jerk, Boevski won the gold medals in the clean and jerk, and in the total with his second attempt, 190 kg. To emphasize his return to top form, Boevski than called for 197 kg, in an attempt to break his own world record in the clean and jerk. He racked the weight, but could not stand up with it. Boevski had come to the competition hall looking relaxed and confident, but when asked about a world record performance, he said, "I don't know - it is very hard to break a world record." His attempt to do just that was no bluff, however: Boevski later said that in training, coming into this contest, he had cleaned and jerked 200 kg, although he was weighing about seven kilos over his body weight limit. Following Boevski's winning 347.5-kg total, Turan Murzayev (AZE) was second, at 340 kg, and Ekrem Celil (TUR) was third, at 325 kg.

LOUTRAKI, GREECE - Pyrros Dimas (GRE) is not competing in this year's European Weightlifting Championships, guarding his knee and building up for the World Weightlifting Championships later this year. Dimas, a three-time Olympic gold medalist, hopes to bag a record fourth Olympic gold medal in Athens next year, and is training progressively toward that goal. Planning to compete in the 94-kg category, Dimas currently weighs about 92 kg and is snatching 170 kg, and cleaning and jerking 210 kg in training. His leg strength isn't too shabby, either: Yesterday morning, in training, Dimas started his front squats with a single with 220 kg, and then did a routine 240 kg. Today, in another morning workout, Dimas front squatted 250 kg.

Powerlifting Video is returning, and strongman fans will be happy to see Odd Haugen featured. Ned Low said, "Odd Haugen was terrific. We did a big shoot for Powerlifter Video on Odd's strongman training and a tour of his gym and all its strongman equipment." Powerlifter Video, which began in 1992, is available by calling 800-227-2355; each issue is just under an hour and includes training footage, equipment reviews, coaching tips, and contest coverage.

Long a top event on the IFSA strongman circuit, the 2003 Finnish Grand Prix has just been formally announced. Janne Virtanen, Juha Rasanen, Svend Karlsen, Magnus Samuelsson, Mariusz Pudzianowski, Raimonds Bergmanis, Hugo Girard and Jarno Hams make up the formidable field of competitors - most of the top names on the international strongman circuit, and four World's Strongest Man winners. Jamie Reeves, Ilkka Kinnunen and Marcel Mostert will be the officials, calling the shots as the competitors do a Harness Pull (8000-kg crane), Conan Circle (320 kg), Hercules Hold (1300-kg Subaru Forester in each hand), Atlas Stones (130-, 140-, 160-, 166- and 173-kg), Farmer's Walk (132.5 kg in each hand) and Wheelbarrow (1100 kg). The date is May 17th, and the location is the Valitti Arena, in Vantaa, Finland.