History of Olympic Weightlifting
Once a part of the athletics (track & field) program, weightlifting was one of the nine founding sports competed in the first Modern Olympic Games in 1896. While still one of the most straightforward sports on the Olympic Programme, weightlifting lays claim to some of the most interesting athletes in history.
ANDERSON, Paul (USA) 1950s
Called the Gentle Georgia Giant by some, Paul ANDERSON was a man whose physical and mental strength overcame a kidney disorder in childhood. He first entered the limelight in 1955 as an unknown replacing an injured American at the first Soviet-American dual athletic competition held in Moscow, where his first lift exceeded the world record by more than 20 pounds. His timing couldn't have been better. The '50s was an era made for heroes, and Paul easily garnered all the credentials: physically fit, stronger than the Russians, a
Guiness Book of World Records holder. (He did a platform lift of 6,270 pounds on 12 June 1957.) The Russians called him a wonder of nature.
At the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne, Australia, ANDERSON competed with a 103-degree fever caused by an inner ear infection. With his balance affected, he was nowhere near his top shape and quickly fell behind. Nevertheless, when faced with his last lift, he succeeded in breaking the Olympic record at 413.5 pounds his only hope to capture the gold. ANDERSON went on to set numerous records in his lifetime.
MIYAKE, Yoshinobu (JPN) 1960s
Yoshinobu MIYAKE had a silver under his belt at age 21. He was a featherweight (then less than 60 kg / 132 lbs) that competed in three Games, though he was admittedly past his prime in 1972. MIYAKE must have had a personal mission to break records. He set 25 in his career and won six world titles for his efforts. He now spends his time training what he hopes will be future Olympians.
FOLDI, Imre (HUN) 1960s & 1970s
Considered by some to be the most successful weightlifter of all times, Imre FOLDI (HUN) competed in five Olympic Games, garnering a gold, two silvers, one fifth and one sixth place. Bantamweight (then less than 56 kg / 123 lbs) in the sixties and seventies, FOLDI was a mere 1.48 m / 4 ft. 10 in. Two golds turned to silver in front of his eyes before he finally captured one in Munich in 1972. The first came after he set a 357.5 world record in Tokyo -- Alexei VAKHONIN topped him with an astounding 142.5 jerk; the second was a tie with Mohammad NASIRI (IRI) in Mexico, another world record, but he was 300 grams heavier, and weight is the tie breaker.
ALEXEEV, Vasili (URS) 1980s
Vasili ALEXEEV had the size (161.7 kg) and the strength warranted by "The Strongest Man in the World." He set the world record in the Olympic total (592.5 kg) and shortly later broke the 600kg ceiling, only to press on. Before he retired, ALEXEEV had lifted an amazing 645kg total.
With a record that includes 80 world records, 22 world titles and two Olympic gold medals (1976 and 1972), ALEXEEV was a natural choice to coach the Soviet team. He retired after the break up of the Soviet Union, but retained his reputation as a name that could pack a house.
This is an official publication of The Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games Sports Publications Department.
Written by Jennifer Knight.
Olympic Factoid |
The volunteer staff of the 1996 Olympic Games totaled 50,152. They worked an estimated 850,000 shifts. |