W.P.A. WORLDS 2000  

The New World Champion & Record Holder from Yugoslavia!!!

. Igor N. Jolevich: "Our lifter Milan Jovanovich  from Yugoslavia (Nish) has set a W.P.A World Record in the 275 lbs class and the first placement in the drug-free division. He has also been awarded as the best powerlifter at the W.P.A World Championships 2000 that was held in Lancaster / Pennsylvania U.S.A during 1-2 April. I'd like to express my satisfaction for his accomplishments at this important meet and I'm glad that he had enough courage, strength & belief in himself to realize his intentions. Milan Jovanovich is a dear friend of mine and I know that there's a fire burning within him for powerlfiting! That's why my pleasure is so great because he was up-to-par when it counted the most and was able to deliver his best under the pressure of a big meet, so far away from his country... I would also like to thank Mr. Scott Taylor, and above all, Mr. Nick Busick for helping Milan get the visa and compete in USA... Milane, I wish you many more victories!!! .

FOR THE HONORABLE CROSS

&

GOLDEN FREEDOM OF SERBIA!"

. Milan Jovanovich saluting after his victory in a custom Serbian manner: Three fingers raised for the holy Trinity (The Father, Son & Holy Ghost) .  Down below is the letter I received from Milan Jovanovich which describes the drama that preceded his victory.

Milan Jovanovich wrote:

"Igor! Awesome news! I won!!!! A 750 lbs squat!!! Regards for you from Scott, Busick, Bob...I'm so tired.... It all started as usual. I couldn't sleep the night prior the meet. The bed was huge, soft, made for dreaming. And I dream, but all my dreams are un-pleasant. I dream of lifting, arguing with the referees, my suits bursts... I was wide awake before dawn. My uncle enters the room. He's with me in Lancaster. In 7:00 AM Busick phones me from the reception. Both he and my uncle had a five hour drive to reach me. Ofcourse, from different destinations. We went to have breakfast all together, and it was a pleasurable one too, because the weigh-in was over and I weighed 272 lbs, like planned. Anyway, Nick Busick is a living legend here in the wrestling world, he definitely has alot of influence and he drove a long way today just to help me out and be my coach at this meet. He knows alot of lifters, communicates with the meet director, marshall/expeditors, scorers, etc & generously helps me with anything I need. . The competition was suppose to begin at 9:00 AM. When I entered hall - I had a bad case of jitters & stage-fright! I prayed to God to (at least) do the openers well and hopefully have no problems with the referees. I was completely confused in the warm-up room, so my second warm-up set was done with 418 lbs (instead of 308 lbs as I planned) and I didn't even notice. This was the second time I actually tried on my new (and awfully expensive!!!) squat suit. The warm-up went on smoothly considering that I was totally off focus. I left the warm-up room twice because of tummy aches.  The next mischance was on the warm-up with 594 lbs when I heard my suit ripping across the butt area. I didn't report this to the Busick's (Both of them were assisting me). The announcement of my squat opener at 660 lbs caught me by surprise because I was just checking my suit for tears. I went to the platform and squatted with ease. When I was just about to lockout the weight - I realized that they were cheering for me. There were about 150 people in the audience in the 'Quality Inn' Hotel hall. I think it's a higher rated hotel, but that's not important right now. Anyway, i've noticed right from the beginning that the audience was cheering and encouraging me. I suppose it's because I was aiming  for a high total in the drug-free division. After the first successful attempt I actually felt an anvil fall of my chest. It was much easier. To tell you the truth, I descended into the squat slowly, very slowly, and then exploded back up. Nick was surprised why I did my opener with such a 'light' weight . Compared to all the other competitors, including the SHW, my opener in the squat was the second in weight... . Bla-bla-bla...660 lbs...Same thing! Identical! Applause, I feel the tremor all-over and I feel like I'm in control of the situation. The 2nd attempt was only 22 lbs beneath my Yugoslav record and 36.3 lbs beneath the W.P.A World record!!! . I feel completely calm... Nick is wrapping my knees... He's nervous and sweating. Three times in a row he accidentally drops the wraps and they unfold. Luckily, I had a couple more spare ones - rolled up. He's nervous. I'm calming him down....I feel strong and we continue on aggressively. Going for 750 lbs - which is 10 lbs more than the W.P.A World Record... . The bar is loaded and the announcer has a slight problem to pronounce my name correctly: "Milan Jovanovich!" I step forward... I'm completely calm... My soul is 7 feet above me... When I wiggled the bar into my traps, I knew it already: "I GOT IT!" I'm trembling right now while I'm typing this... Slowly, down...down...down....into the abyss... There's no end... I'm goin' up now! Three white lights!!! I feel the small capillaries bursting in my legs, my face and neck... I raise three fingers... I hear the blood pumping in my brow... I can't hear anything... I can't feel Nick who's hugging me, either... I'm trying to sit down somewhere where they can take off these wraps which are killing me! I feel great! Never better! Most people were impressed because my squat was so deep and because I'm such a tall guy (and thin...ten 22 lbs down) Opponents? Got none! They're behind me 132 lbs! I knew I'd be first... . The bench press follows. Easy. Relaxed.. 400, 425 and then I miss 450 lbs... . When the time for deadlifting arrived, I was so tired I didn't even want to go to the warm-up room. I was hungry...sleepy...I wanted to phone my wife...my child... I don't know what came upon me. I wanted to take my shoes off...I wanted to run around... I wanted to stand on a soap-box and give a lecturing speech against Clinton's bombings... . Unfortunately, I had to go warm-up... I had two warm-up attempts and I went twice on the platform to deadlift. I went 550 lbs & 616 lbs...and that would be just about it... . Now we're sittin' and waitin' for the announcement. The formula's have to be calculated. People are approaching me... Congratulating.... Taking pictures... I'm giving away my 'visit cards' and returning compliments....to just about everybody...I can't recognize anyone... I'm just tired...and hungry....I feel the blood running down my shins. I'm trembling and sweating...both in the same time... What's Charlie doin'? What's new back in Yugoslavia? Is my son asleep now? Which cup is for me? . Send this to Nestorovich: The W.P.A. World Championship, Lancaster / Pennsylvania, USA. 1-2 April 2000. I was in the 275 lbs division. The last two days I had to lose 9 lbs and I've done so successfully. On the weigh-in I had 272 lbs. I've set a new World record in the drug-free 275 lbs class - a 750 lbs squat. I've beaten the previous World Record by 9 lbs, and the Yugoslav record by 22 lbs. I've placed first in my division and what's best of all - I was pronounced to be the best powerlifter at the meet! This was all in the drug-free division. So, no vitamins here....I received a golden cup (medium sized) and a neat medallion with a writing on it: World Championship in Powerlifting 2000, best lifter. It doesn't say 'drug-tested' but that's just about all... . Spread the word down in my gym! I'm too tired to check what I've just written... regards,

Milan Jovanovich

Robert & Nick Busick help Milan get into the bench shirt

Milan wins in the WPA World's 2000 drug-free division

Robert & Nick Busick, Milan Jovanovich, and Scott Taylor standing

Milan warming up for the squat in the monolift

back to the home page   .