'Satisfy those needs'

Agapitov is especially agitated because a generation of weightlifters of Musokhranov's vintage may now never experience an Olympics.

He said the career of a weightlifter was "short" and that it was "difficult" to remain at the top for several years.

"But, it is possible," Agapitov added, adopting a more positive tone — he himself was 27 when he topped the podium in the — 91 kilogram category at the 1997 world championships in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

Musokhranov agrees that a lot of weightlifters at his age call it a day, but he believes his form is good enough for him to plow on, with an eye on Los Angeles in four years' time.

"I feel as strong as ever, I have not lost my motivation with regards to training," said the father of two daughters.

Musokhranov's desire to carry on and experience an Olympics is understandable given his longstanding love affair with the sport, which manifested by chance when, as an 11-year-old, he waited for a friend to finish training.

"Everything depends on your body and your hunger," said Musokhranov, who served a three-month doping suspension in 2013.

"I am very hungry. The body has no alternative but to satisfy those needs," he added with a smile.

Paris will certainly miss his showmanship.

He dances onto the stage with a mischievous look in his eyes, which he says is to put psychological "pressure" on his rivals.

It certainly worked in Tula as, a few minutes after speaking to AFP, he won the — 61kg category at the Russia Cup.

He admits, though, it is hard to calibrate where he might stand against non-Russian opponents, as the number of international weightlifters he currently faces is limited due to events in Ukraine.

However, he is very much a glass-half-full person.

So, while he may not yet be able to emulate his idols, such as fellow Russian Evgeny Chigishev, the Olympic silver medalist at the 2008 Beijing Games, or Turkiye's three-time Olympic champion Halil Mutlu, he takes succor from the crumbs he can sweep up.

"We have the Russian Cups, the Russian championships," he said.

"Last April we were invited to Venezuela."

Musokhranov took gold in Caracas — and what he wouldn't give for that to be the result in Los Angeles in 2028.

AFP