The legendary Soviet athlete Leonid Zhabotinsky died

The famous athlete literally “burned out” in two days from the consequences of the disease. Photo: kp.ua

On January 14, the famous Zaporozhye weight-lifter Leonid Zhabotinsky passed away. The legendary athlete was unable to overcome the flu, which caused serious complications. This was announced by his son Ruslan.

“He was sick, but he was recovering, and then he became infected with the flu - and there was a sharp thrombosis of the intestines - the flu affects the intestinal system, and after the operation dad did not regain consciousness. On January 13, he had surgery to remove part of the thrombosed intestine... It all happened because of the flu,” he said.

Established 19 world records, speaking at heavyweight. Photo: kp.ua

According to Ruslan, his father “burned out” in just two days.

Even on January 10, he felt great while in the hospital! In total, he spent four months in the hospital: he was admitted there for a broken leg and underwent surgery. They restored him, then he “caught” a micro-stroke, and now he was restored normally, he should have been discharged - and the nurses there infected him with the flu, they walked around without gauze bandages. And as a result, in two days he “burned out,” said the son of Leonid Zhabotinsky.

Before his birthday, the world-famous weightlifter did not live the entire 14 days. 28 January he would have turned 78. Leonid Ivanovich left 14 January after a long illness.

Leonid Zhabotinsky is a symbol of an entire era; his track record includes dozens of awards: 19 world records, two-time Olympic champion, four-time world champion, two-time European champion, five-time USSR champion, holder of the title “The Strongest Man on the Planet.”

The main duel of his career - with Yuri Vlasov - is still remembered as a sports legend.

In 1964, the whole world watched the fight between two Soviet giants - Vlasov, who at that time was already an Olympic champion, and Zhabotinsky, for whom these were the first Games.

This fight at the Tokyo Olympics will forever go down in the history of weightlifting. Moreover, according to many, it was this confrontation that became the main intrigue of the Games. Japanese newspapers wrote: “If someone has not seen the fight between Vlasov and Zhabotinsky, then they have not seen the Olympics.”