Ilya Ilyin

Ilya Ilyin, born on May 24, 1988, is a retired weightlifter from Kazakhstan, celebrated for his remarkable achievements in the sport. He is a four-time world champion and has been recognized as one of the greatest weightlifters in history. His career, however, was marred by controversies surrounding doping violations that led to his disqualification from the Olympic Games.

Initially, Ilyin made headlines as a two-time Olympic gold medallist, triumphing in the 2008 and 2012 Olympics. His accolades were overshadowed when, on November 25, 2016, the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) stripped him of his medals following retests of his samples that revealed doping abuse.

Despite the setbacks, Ilyin's prowess in weightlifting was undeniable. On December 12, 2015, during the President's Cup in Grozny, Russia, he set two world records in the −105 kg class, lifting an impressive 246 kg in the clean and jerk and achieving a total lift of 437 kg. His exceptional talent earned him the title of IWF World Weightlifter of the Year four times, in the years 2005, 2006, 2014, and 2015.