And that translates to: David Adamovich Rigert.
Chances are that most folks who stop by will have no idea who David Rigert is. Suffice it to say that for guys like me that were hitting the gym on a regular basis back in the '70s, David Rigert was held in awe by most. I particularly remember reading a story about what he did after failing to win the gold medal, or any medal for that matter, in the 1972 Olympics. He failed @ three attempts at a starting weight that should have been routine for him. After returning home from the Olympics, from what I remember reading ~30+ years ago, he went off by himself on some sort of self-imposed exile, or as I like to think of it...a Vision Quest.
From Wikipedia:
"After a disappointing performance at the 1972 Summer Olympics, in 1973 Rigert won in all competitions he participated, setting eight World records. He won in all World and European Championships between 1973 and 1976, and earned the gold medal at the 1976 Summer Olympics."
Below: David Rigert at Gettysburg, PA in 1978.
World Record & World Champion.
Below: David Rigert then and now.
There is something to be said for stepping back at times and assessing where you've been, where you are, and where you want to be. After bombing out on the world stage at the 1972 Olympics when most expected him to easily win the gold medal in weightlifting, David Rigert did just that and, at his chosen sport...became a legend.
Perhaps we all could benefit from a similar exercise.
Perhaps we all could benefit from a similar exercise.
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