Sergey Vs. Sergei

Today we had a treat in class. There was to be a competition. Sergey Rachinskiy and Sergei Merkulin were going to do 5 minutes of long cycle with the 32kg bells.

Aleks had thought this would be a good idea. How often do lifters like us get to see to all time champions go at it right in front of us? Sergei Merkulin has won more world championships than anyone in the history of the sport. He has won more than even The Great Mishin himself! Sergey Rachinskiy is The Ultimate Girevik. He has the respect of all lifters because he is a champion who gives his body to the sport.

Merkulin is a classically beautiful lifter. His technique is perfect. His body is like a thorobred racehorse. If you grab his arm it feels like flesh with steel wire running through it. It is completely relaxed yet impossible to challenge. He is meticulous in his movement. He has perfect pacing, perfect breathing, he is focused, he does not lose.

Rachinskiy is a Wildman. He is Wolverine. He lifts with a cocktail of passion and fury that only he can control. He stands like he is sleeping and then, without warning, he rages like a great storm. When it passes he sleeps again, for a while, until the rage returns.

Merkulin slapped his own face a little. He snarled and rolled his neck. He engaged and focused his gaze on the task, on the steel in front of him. Rachnskiy looked around, wild eyed and crazed. He didn’t bother to look at the bells.

The set started.

Rachinskiy jumped out ahead with a sprint. Merkulin galloped along relentlessly. Rachinskiy rested, Merkulin gained, Rachinskiy sprinted, Merkulin stayed true to his plan. 5 minutes passed…

Sergey Rachnskiy 44 reps

Sergei Merkulin 44 reps

Unbelievable.

During the next lecture some of us were distracted by the two of them in the corner. They were chalking up. They were talking shit. They were not finished. You could see that even though they are friends, they are so competitive they could not take the tie.

They could not stand it.

After the lecture the bells were set back up. Aleks came out and said that in the interest of competition there needed to be a winner. The two Sergeys would go two more minutes.

For two guys who are friends they looked pretty damn serious.

I have to say this. Over ten minutes there is nobody I would pick to beat Sergey Merkulin. He is the best in the world at what he does and he may be the best ever. 16 time world champion, the guy is Rick Freaking Flair!

They started in a fury.

Merkulin with his fast and strong measure approach and Richinskiy with his crazed and unsustainable attack. They were moving man.

I was waiting for Rachinskiy to rest. I was waiting for him to fade. The time was ticking. The numbers were in Russian, we all lost count.

2 minutes expired. Sergey Rachinskiy fell to his knees. Sergey Merkulin, the great sportsman, gestured to his friend, the match was over. The day had been won.

Merkulin 24 reps.

Rachinskiy 26 reps.

Sergey, the great champion had won again.

Kettle,