Naim Süleymanoğlu

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Olympic medalist
Center
Naim Süleymanoğlu
Medal record
Men's weightlifting
Gold 1988 Seoul Featherweight
Gold 1992 Barcelona Featherweight
Gold 1996 Atlanta Featherweight

Naim Süleymanoğlu (born January 23, 1967 in Ptichar, Bulgaria), also formerly known as Naim Suleimanov (Bulgarian: Наим Сюлейманов), is a Bulgarian/Turkish World and Olympic Champion in weightlifting. He won three Olympic Championships, seven World Championships and six European Championships and improved world records 46 times.

Of Turkish descent born in Bulgaria, Naim Suleimanov set his first world record in weightlifting at the age 16. He became the second ( to Stefan Topurov from Bulgaria ) lifter (of only seven) to clean and jerk three times his bodyweight in history. Due to his small stature, he was nicknamed "The Pocket Hercules". He missed his first chance at Olympic success in 1984 when Bulgaria joined the Soviet boycott of the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.

Soon afterward, the Communist regime in Bulgaria forced its Turkish minority to adopt Bulgarian names, and he was then known internationally as Naum Shalamanov (Наум Шаламанов).

While on a trip to the World Cup Final in Melbourne in 1986, Suleimanov defected. He resurfaced in Turkey, where he applied for citizenship. He also changed his name from the Bulgarian Suleimanov/Shalamanov to the Turkish Süleymanoğlu.

A battle over which country he would represent in the 1988 Seoul Olympics arose. The Bulgarian government demanded and received $1,000,000 from Turkey to allow Naim to compete for Turkey.

The 4'11" (150 cm) Naim did not disappoint, winning the lightweight title at the 1988 Summer Olympics. He retired after winning the world championship in 1989 at the age of 22. After the fall of Communism in Bulgaria, his family was able to join him in Turkey.

The allure of competition was too strong, and Naim returned in 1991 and he won a second Olympic gold medal at Barcelona in 1992. Between the Olympiads, Naim continued to win world titles and set records.

The 1996 Olympic Games were to be his swan song. He announced his retirement again, effective after the Atlanta Olympics. Not to disappoint, Naim won a third Olympic gold medal.

He unsuccessfully attempted 145 kg (which was higher than the Olympic record) three times in 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, so could not get a fourth gold medal. He was awarded with the Olympic Order in 2001.

At 1999 General Elections, he ran as an independent candidate to represent Bursa at the Grand National Assembly of Turkey. In 2002, he became the candidate of Nationalist Movement Party for the mayor of Kıraç municipality in Büyükçekmece district of Istanbul Province and general elections in 2006. He failed at both attempts.

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