During World War II he served in the Soviet Navy on the Black Sea.

After the war he worked on the restoration of the Odessa sea port, clearing the mines as a diver.

Between 1950 and 1960 he set 26 world records, 16 of them became official: two in the press, nine in the snatch, one in the clean and jerk and four in the total.

For many years Vorobyov captained the Soviet weightlifting team, and after retiring from competitions became its head coach.

His students included elite coaches and sportsmen from Russia, Bulgaria, Cuba, Hungary and many other countries.