Karlos Nasar at WWC 2023 in Riyadh, KSA/ Recovery, training & goals for the Olympic Games

A 19-year-old Bulgarian world record holder Karlos Nasar is returning for the ongoing World Weightlifting Championships 2023 in Riyadh, not to compete, but to be present for weigh-in. The reason is a serious leg injury, so Karlos trains intensively to maintain and improve his physical form following post-surgery rehabilitation therapy under the guidance of his coach. 

Having set two world records at the European World Championships in Yerevan, with 221 kg in C&J and 395 kg total, Nasar has great plans for the upcoming Olympic Games in Paris.

Recovery and training regime

We succeeded in talking with Karlos Nasar personally and got to know more information about his training plans and overall intentions for the Games. To be short, Karlos looks pretty confident and energetic, as there was no leg injury. He said that currently he’s in great condition and has ambitious plans for the major competition. 

Considering the fact of setting a WR that was beaten a few days later by Chinese lifters Tian Tao and Li Dayin, Nasar’s personal trainer said that the main goal for the EWC was to get the right to compete at the Olympic Games by setting the best total. He pointed out that they were ready for heavier lifting and now they are ready to compete with the Chinese team at the Games.

Generally, the training atmosphere inside the Bulgarian team is very close-knit, warm, and friendly which makes athletes train with more persistence. 

Changes in the training plan and current state

As this time the Qualifying stage is held in hot Riyadh, we were curious whether the climate affects Nasar’s training regime. His coach said that the temperature is higher in Riyadh than in Bulgaria, but they got acclimated to the weather and now feel comfortable. 

Despite the leg injury, the training program didn’t change at all. Karlos starts with a massage,  leg stretching, and then performing snatch exercise. It seemed to us that no surgery intervention happened since Nasar trains so powerfully and persistently.

The coach admitted that for now, Karlos is performing at 80% of his maximum performance level, by making a snatch of 160-165 kg and C&J of 200 kg. The major goal is to show the peak at the Olympic Games.

Overall, Nasar’s coach is happy with the current lifter’s condition. According to health experts Karlos is ready to start training at the maximum in 2-3 months after the recovery.

Taking into account the leg injury, the lifting technique should be also adjusted accordingly. For you to know, Karlos uses the split jerk technique, but there’s another one called the power jerk which isn’t typical for Karlos. The trainer assured us that the injury didn’t impact the athlete’s technique and that everything is alright.

High confidence and determination for the Games

We believe that Karlos is very athletic and powerful, with his unique lifting technique that is pretty efficient and works for him greatly. The athlete confirmed that he uses special ways to lift great weights that is thanks to his genetics, strong mentality, and his own style. Carlos is ready for the great competition and any obstacle can be overcome due to his strength, confidence, and determination.