Aleksandar Varbanov is not just a bronze medal winner, representing his native Bulgaria in Seoul in the summer of 1988, though that is certainly a source of immense pride.
The 57 year-old owner/operator of the Varbanov Weightlifting School in Toronto is also a three time world champion (1983-1985-1986), one who would make the trek north on Saturday with his wife, Irina, as well as son, Niki, who handles much of the interview process for the trio.
“As long as I am on this planet, weightlifting will be my life, it will be my love,” said Alek, via translation through Niki, the tandem having just finished a session with Alex Fera (Sudbury Weightlifting Club) and his lifters out at True North Athletic Centre – CrossFit in New Sudbury. “I will continue to try and bring my knowledge to as many people as I can, regardless of where I am in the world.”
The Varbanovs moved to Canada in July of 2008. Just eight years old at the time, Niki would be weaned to the sport, at least initially. “I did a lot of swimming and track and field training, and just some technique training with a PVC pipe,” said the 21 year–old who would break a provincial weightlifting record by the age of 12.
“It was not serious lifting (initially), but I did start to get the mechanics.”
And yet as they spoke to the assembled athletes this weekend in Sudbury, their attention turned as much from the technical aspects of the sport to a more holistic approach, one that creates the ideal environment for future involvement and success in weightlifting.
“People sometimes think of weightlifting as all about wanting to put as much weight on the bar as you possibly can, striving to be the strongest ever,” said young Varbanov. “That is not what the sport of weightlifting is all about. It’s about taking the steps to fall in love with a sport that you can do for your whole life.”
“What we strive to promote is that this is a sport for everybody, a sport that helps promote general wellness, general health, to get people up and moving.”
In fact, many are their students who are not necessarily gearing up for the next upcoming competition in weightlifting.
“There is such transference from weightlifting to other sports,” said Varbanov. “The goal of weightlifting is to be as explosive as possible, building power, strength, speed, all together. There are a lot athletes that can use that explosiveness. In my opinion, the benefits of weightlifting can be distributed to many sports.”
Thankfully, many folks have agreed, allowing the Varbanovs the opportunity to shape many a different athlete in many a different sport. The more they get to share their message, the better.
"Watching my father and the way that he approaches the sport, the way that he approaches teaching people, he does it with such passion and he does it with such love," said Niki. "Our sessions will run late, lots of times, just because we can't get enough of talking about our sport and sharing our knowledge with people."
"It's admirable to see that he has stayed with this sport for so long," Varbanov added. "He's been all over the world, to lift and to coach."
The Varbanov sessions are very much a family affair. Even Irina, a recreational gymnast in her youth but now an accredited weightlifting official, can speak to the first hand experience of seeing the positive takeaways for those who are serious about their involvement with the sport.
"Niki was a wild kid, causing lots of trouble," she said with a smile. "Alek was firm that Niki had to go to the gym to focus his energy on something useful. Any competitive sport teaches discipline and commitment."
"That's very important for our coaches. You want to build the behaviour of an Olympian, even without being an Olympian. No matter what weight you lift, show some commitment."
