Athletes
Naim Suleymanoglu
Also Known As Pocket Hercules
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Naim Suleymanoglu, nicknamed Pocket Hercules for his combination of a 147 centimeter frame and immense strength, was a Turkish weightlifter and three time Olympic gold medalist. Born to ethnic Turkish parents in Bulgaria, he defected to Turkey in 1986 amid a state policy forcing ethnic Turks to adopt Slavic names, with Turkey paying Bulgaria for his athletic release. He set 51 world records between 1983 and 1996 and remains one of the most dominant lifters in the sport's history. He died in Istanbul in 2017 at age 50.
Facts
Career HighlightDefected from Bulgaria to Turkey in 1986 after fleeing his handlers during a competition in Melbourne, amid a Bulgarian policy that forced ethnic Turks to adopt Slavic names; Turkey paid Bulgaria 1.25 million dollars to secure his release to compete internationally. 1 Career HighlightSet 51 world records between 1983 and 1996 and won seven World Championship titles; at Seoul 1988 his clean and jerk of 190 kilograms was 3.15 times his own body weight, the highest ratio on record. 1 Career HighlightWon three consecutive Olympic gold medals, at Seoul 1988 and Barcelona 1992 in the 60 kilogram division and Atlanta 1996 in the 64 kilogram division. 1 Cross-Tradition Connections
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