 As for Vardanyan's division, silver medalist Blagoi Blagoev had totaled 372.5 kg and bronze medalist Dusan Poliacik totaled 367.5 kg.The following year, Vardanyan moved up to middle-heavyweight for a competition in Donetsk, in which he set all the division's world records, but decided to move back down to light heavyweight for the World and European Championships in Lille.It was also during this time that Asen Zlatev of Bulgaria emerged as a top contender in the division.