Wikipedia

Naim Süleymanoğlu

Naim Süleymanoğlu (23 January 1967 – 18 November 2017)[1][2] was a Turkish Olympic weightlifter. He was a seven-time World Weightlifting champion and a three-time Olympic gold medalist who set 51 world records.[3][4] At 147 cm in height, Süleymanoğlu's short stature and great strength led to him being nicknamed "Pocket Hercules". He is widely considered as one of the greatest Olympic weightlifters of all time, with many calling him the best pound-for-pound weightlifter in the history of weightlifting.

Naim Süleymanoğlu
Personal information
Nickname
The Pocket Hercules
NationalityTurkish
CitizenshipTurkey
BornNaim Suleymanoglu
(1967-01-23)23 January 1967[1]
Ptichar, Kardzhali Province, Bulgaria
Died18 November 2017(2017-11-18) (aged 50)
Istanbul, Turkey
Years active1982–2000
Height1.47 m (4 ft 10 in) (2000)
Weight62 kg (137 lb) (2000)
Sport
CountryBulgaria Bulgaria (1977–1986)
Turkey Turkey (1986–2000)
SportOlympic weightlifting
Event(s)
56 kg (1983), 60 kg (1985–1992), 64 kg (1993–1996), 62 kg (2000)
Turned pro1983
Retired2000
Achievements and titles
Personal bests
  • Snatch: 152.5 kg (1988, WR)
  • Clean & Jerk: 190.0 kg (1988, WR)
  • Total: 342.5 (1988, WR)
Medal record
Representing  Turkey
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place1988 Seoul-60 kg
Gold medal – first place1992 Barcelona-60 kg
Gold medal – first place1996 Atlanta-64 kg
World Championships
Gold medal – first place1989 Athens-60 kg
Gold medal – first place1991 Donaueschingen-60 kg
Gold medal – first place1993 Melbourne64 kg
Gold medal – first place1994 Istanbul-64 kg
Gold medal – first place1995 Guangzhou-64 kg
European Championships
Gold medal – first place1988 Cardiff-60 kg
Gold medal – first place1989 Athens-60 kg
Gold medal – first place1994 Sokolov-64 kg
Gold medal – first place1995 Warsaw-64 kg
Silver medal – second place1992 Szekszárd-60 kg
Bronze medal – third place2000 Sofia-62 kg
Mediterranean Games
Gold medal – first place1991 Athens60 kg S
Gold medal – first place1991 Athens60 kg CJ
Gold medal – first place1991 Athens60 kg T
Representing  Bulgaria
World Championships
Gold medal – first place1985 Södertälje-60 kg
Gold medal – first place1986 Sofia-60 kg
Silver medal – second place1983 Moscow-56 kg
European Championships
Gold medal – first place1984 Vitoria-56 kg
Gold medal – first place1985 Katowice-60 kg
Gold medal – first place1986 Karl-Marx-Stadt-60 kg
Silver medal – second place1983 Moscow-56 kg
World Junior Championships
Gold medal – first place1982 Sao Paulo-52 kg
IWF World Cup Final
Gold medal – first place1984 Sarajevo-56 kg
Gold medal – first place1985 Monte Carlo-60 kg
IWF World Cup Winner
Gold medal – first place1984 Sarajevo-56 kg
Gold medal – first place1985 Monte Carlo-60 kg
Gold medal – first place1986 Melbourne-60 kg
Friendship Games
Gold medal – first place1984 Varna-56 kg

At the 1988 Summer Olympics, Süleymanoğlu set multiple world records in the featherweight division in the snatch, clean and jerk, and total.[5][6] Following the 1988 Summer Olympics, he made the cover of Time magazine. Süleymanoğlu went on to win Olympic gold in 1992 and 1996. He was awarded the Olympic Order in 2001. In 2000 and 2004, he was elected as a member of the International Weightlifting Federation Hall of Fame.

Early life in Bulgaria, early career, and defection to Turkey

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Birthplace of Süleymanoğlu in Ptichar village, Kardzhali, Bulgaria.

Süleymanoğlu was born in Ptichar, Kardzhali Province, Bulgaria. His father was a miner who stood only five feet tall, while his mother was four-foot-seven.[7] He set a world weightlifting record during his teens[8][9] and would have been an overwhelming favorite to win gold at the 1984 Summer Olympics had Bulgaria not joined in a boycott by the Eastern Bloc.[10]

In the 1980s, Bulgaria's government implemented a program called the Revival Process which required ethnic minorities to adopt Slavic names and barred their languages.[11] As a result, Süleymanoğlu was forced to change his name to Naum Shalamanov (Bulgarian: Наум Шаламанов) in 1985. He decided to leave Bulgaria after these experiences and he conducted encrypted correspondence with Turkish Squad during the period.[7][12]

While on a trip to the World Cup Final in Melbourne in 1986, Süleymanoğlu escaped his handlers, and after several days in hiding, he defected at the Turkish Embassy in Canberra. When Embassy officials reported the situation to Turgut Özal, The Prime Minister ordered him to be brought at once. He landed in London first, where he was transferred into a private jet to fly into Istanbul and Ankara eventually. After making his way to Istanbul, he changed his name back to Süleymanoğlu.[7]

In 2012, Süleymanoğlu said, "Against all the odds, I've never been nostalgic. After being treated with such attitude, you wouldn't regret it. The Bulgarians changed the names of 2 million people by force. It was a very difficult period. People who witnessed the events would know. I wouldn't change any of the decisions I took that day in my life. Even if I could set back the clock, I would still escape Bulgaria. Because as the Turkish people, we were too hard-pressed in Bulgaria."[13]

Olympic competition

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In order for Süleymanoğlu to compete at the 1988 Seoul Olympics, the Bulgarian government had to agree to release his eligibility to Turkey. The Turks paid Bulgaria $1.25 million for his release.[10]

At the Olympics, Süleymanoğlu competed in the featherweight division.[14] His main competition was his old teammate from the Bulgarian team, Stefan Topurov. He came out for the snatch portion of the competition after all other athletes had finished and made three consecutive lifts, setting world records in his last two attempts. In the clean and jerk portion, Topurov completed a 175.0 kg clean and jerk after Süleymanoğlu. With his next two lifts, Süleymanoğlu set two more world records and won his first Olympic gold. His last lift was a 190.0 kg clean and jerk that was 3.15 times his body weight,[15] which is the highest ratio clean and jerk to body weight of all time. Using the Sinclair coefficient, his performance at the 1988 Seoul Olympics was the most dominating weightlifting performance of all time.[16] His total was high enough to win the weight class above his.[6] After the 1988 Summer Olympics, Süleymanoğlu appeared on the cover of Time magazine.[9] The 4'10" Süleymanoğlu's "diminutive size and stunning strength"[7] led to him being nicknamed "Pocket Hercules".[8][9][7]

Süleymanoğlu retired from weightlifting at the age of 22 after winning the world championship in 1989.[17] However, he returned to the sport in 1991[8] and won a second Olympic gold medal in Barcelona in 1992.[7] He retired after winning a third consecutive Olympic gold medal in Atlanta at the 1996 Olympic Games. That competition was noted for the rivalry between Süleymanoğlu and Greece's Valerios Leonidis, with the arena divided into partisan Turkish and Greek crowds. At the end of the competition, they were the last competitors remaining as they traded three straight world-record lifts. Süleymanoğlu managed to raise 187.5 kg, and then Leonidis failed in his attempt to lift 190 kg which earned Süleymanoğlu the gold medal. In a show of sportsmanship Süleymanoğlu embraced Leonidis, who had broken down in tears. Announcer Lynn Jones proclaimed, "You have just witnessed the greatest weightlifting competition in history," according to Ken Jones of The Independent.[18][19][20][dead link]

Süleymanoğlu made another comeback in a late attempt to earn a fourth gold medal at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, which would have been an Olympic record. However, he failed three attempts at 145 kg[21] and was eliminated from the competition.

Süleymanoğlu is the first and only weightlifter to have snatched 2.5 times his body weight and also is the second of only seven lifters to date to clean and jerk three times his body weight.[14][failed verification] He is the only weightlifter to date to clean and jerk 10 kilos more than triple his body weight.[22][23]

Over the course of his career, Süleymanoğlu has won seven World Weightlifting champion and three Olympic gold medals, and set a total of 51 world records from 1983 to 1996.[3][9] Only Vasily Alekseyev and David Rigert have set more world records in weightlifting. Süleymanoğlu was awarded the Olympic Order in 2001.[24] In 2000 and 2004, he was elected a member of the International Weightlifting Federation Hall of Fame.[9] Süleymanoğlu is widely considered to have been the best pound-for-pound Olympic weightlifter of all time, and one of the greatest Olympic weightlifters ever.[25] He is regarded as a national hero in Turkey.[7]

Political career

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At the 1999 general elections, Süleymanoğlu stood as an independent candidate to represent Bursa at the Grand National Assembly of Turkey. In 2002, he was the candidate of the Nationalist Movement Party for the mayor of Kıraç municipality in Büyükçekmece district of Istanbul Province; he represented the same party in general elections in 2006. Süleymanoğlu was unsuccessful in each of these bids for public office.[26]

Personal life and death

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A heavy drinker,[27] Süleymanoğlu suffered from cirrhosis of the liver.[28] In 2009, he was hospitalized for nearly three months.[29]

Grave of Naim Süleymanoğlu at Edirnekapı Cemetery, Istanbul.

On 25 September 2017, Süleymanoğlu was admitted to a hospital due to liver failure.[28] On 6 October, a liver transplantation was made when a liver donor was found.[28] On 11 November, he had surgery due to a hemorrhage in the brain and a subsequent edema. He died on 18 November 2017[24] and was interred at the Edirnekapı Martyr's Cemetery in Istanbul.[30] Many dignitaries and prominent atheletes attended Süleymanoğlu's funeral, including his rival in the 1996 Summer Olympics, Greece's Valerios Leonidis.[31]

A movie about his life and career entitled Cep Herkülü: Naim Süleymanoğlu[32] was released in Turkey on November 22, 2019.

Süleymanoğlu's grave was opened on July 4, 2018 for the purpose of extracting a DNA sample. Following his death, a Japanese woman had claimed that her daughter, Sekai Mori, had been fathered by him, and filed a paternity case at a Turkish court.[30] A DNA test confirmed the paternity claim.[33] Süleymanoğlu also had three daughters by a Turkish woman.[34]

Legacy

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Naim Süleymanoğlu is regarded as one of the greatest weightlifters in the history of the sport. His achievements and international recognition made him an important cultural figure among the Turkish community in Bulgaria and Turkey.

Naim Süleymanoğlu Monument

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In his hometown of Momchilgrad (Turkish: Mestanli), a monument dedicated to Süleymanoğlu was erected in the town center to commemorate his achievements and connection to the region. The monument is considered one of the notable landmarks of the town.

Sport Complex “Naim Süleymanoğlu”

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A sports complex bearing his name was opened in Momchilgrad. The facility was established to promote youth sports and physical education. It hosts various sporting and community events throughout the year.[35]

Naim Süleymanoğlu Museum

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A museum dedicated to Süleymanoğlu was established in Momchilgrad. The museum contains medals, photographs, documents, and personal belongings related to his life and sporting career. It serves as a cultural and historical site visited by tourists and sports enthusiasts.[36]

Süleymanoğlu continues to be remembered as an influential figure in weightlifting history and among the Turkish communities of the Balkans.

Movie "Pocket Hercules: Naim Süleymanoğlu"

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The biographical film about Naim Süleymanoğlu is titled Pocket Hercules: Naim Suleymanoglu (Turkish: Cep Herkülü: Naim Süleymanoğlu). The film was released in 2019 and directed by Özer Feyzioğlu. It depicts the life, sporting career, and political struggles of Süleymanoğlu, including his rise in weightlifting, his world records, and his defection from communist Bulgaria to Turkey. [37]

The film stars Hayat Van Eck as Naim Süleymanoğlu and covers the period from his childhood in Bulgaria to his gold medal victory at the 1988 Seoul Olympics. It also portrays the assimilation campaign against Turks in Bulgaria during the communist era and Süleymanoğlu’s role in drawing international attention to the situation. [38]

The film was released theatrically in Turkey on 22 November 2019 and was later distributed internationally on Netflix under the English title The Pocket Hercules Naim. [39]

Major results

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Year Venue Weight Snatch (kg) Clean & Jerk (kg) Total Rank
1 2 3 Rank 1 2 3 Rank
Olympic Games
1988South Korea Seoul, South Korea60 kg145.0150.5 WR152.5 WR1175.0188.5 WR190.0 WR1342.5 WR1st place, gold medalist(s)
1992Spain Barcelona, Spain60 kg142.51531531170177.5—13201st place, gold medalist(s)
1996United States Atlanta, United States64 kg145147.5147.51180185187.51335 WR1st place, gold medalist(s)
2000Australia Sydney, Australia62 kg145145145———————
World Championships
1983Soviet Union Moscow, Soviet Union56 kg130.0 WR——1st place, gold medalist(s)160.0——3rd place, bronze medalist(s)290.02nd place, silver medalist(s)
1985Sweden Södertälje, Sweden60 kg143 WR——1st place, gold medalist(s)180.0——1st place, gold medalist(s)322.51st place, gold medalist(s)
1986Bulgaria Sofia, Bulgaria60 kg147.5 WR——1st place, gold medalist(s)188 WR——1st place, gold medalist(s)335 WR1st place, gold medalist(s)
1989Greece Athens, Greece60 kg140.0145.0—1st place, gold medalist(s)172.5172.5192.51st place, gold medalist(s)317.51st place, gold medalist(s)
1991Germany Donaueschingen, Germany60 kg135.0137.5140.01st place, gold medalist(s)165.0172.5180.01st place, gold medalist(s)310.01st place, gold medalist(s)
1993Australia Melbourne, Australia64 kg140.0145.0—1st place, gold medalist(s)175.0177.5 WR—1st place, gold medalist(s)322.5 WR1st place, gold medalist(s)
1994Turkey Istanbul, Turkey64 kg142.5145.0147.5 WR1st place, gold medalist(s)177.5181.0182.5 WR1st place, gold medalist(s)330.0 WR1st place, gold medalist(s)
1995China Guangzhou, China64 kg145.0145.0147.51st place, gold medalist(s)180.0185.0—1st place, gold medalist(s)327.51st place, gold medalist(s)
Friendship Games
1984Bulgaria Varna, Bulgaria56 kg132.5——1165.0——1297.51st place, gold medalist(s)

Career bests

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References

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  1. 1 2 Oliver, Brian (December 3, 2017). "Naim Süleymanoğlu obituary" – via The Guardian.
  2. ↑ ""Westentaschen-Herkules" Naim Süleymanoglu gestorben". zeit.de (in German). November 18, 2017. Archived from the original on December 1, 2017. Retrieved December 17, 2024.
  3. 1 2 "Top Olympic Lifters of the 20th Century, NAIM SULEYMANOGLU". LIFT UP. Retrieved 15 April 2025.
  4. ↑ "STRENGTH RECORD PANTHEON". www.strengthrecord.com. Retrieved 9 April 2025.
  5. ↑ "Weightlifting World Records". www.strengthrecord.com. Retrieved 15 April 2025.
  6. 1 2 "Biography of Naim Süleymanoğlu". www.sports-reference.com. Archived from the original on April 17, 2020. Retrieved August 7, 2014.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Sandomir, Richard (2017-11-22). "Naim Suleymanoglu, 50, Dies; Weight Lifting's 'Pocket Hercules'". New York Times.
  8. 1 2 3 Hersh, Phil (29 July 1992). "'POCKET HERCULES' LIFTS TURKEY TO NEW HEIGHTS". Chicago Tribune.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 "Turkey commemorates weightlifting legend Suleymanoglu". www.aa.com.tr. November 18, 2019.
  10. 1 2 "Suleymanoglu Lifts Weights and Hearts with Extraordinary Hat-Trick". olympic.org. 1988-09-22.
  11. ↑ The Policies of the Bulgarian Communist Party towards Jews, Roma, Pomaks and Turks (1944-89) Archived 2007-09-26 at the Wayback Machine (Bulgarian). By Ulrich Büchsenschütz. International Center for Minority Studies and Intercultural Relations, 2000. Retrieved 26 May 2012.
  12. ↑ "The Revival Process and Naim Süleymanoğlu". Archived from the original on 2020-11-25. Retrieved 2021-01-21.
  13. ↑ "Interview with Naim Süleymanoğlu". Eurosport. Retrieved 2021-01-21.
  14. 1 2 "Naim Süleymanoğlu". Olympics.com.
  15. ↑ Dodds, Tracy (21 September 1988). "THE SEOUL GAMES / DAY 5 : YOU NAME IT, HE LIFTS IT : Suleymanoglu Sets 3 World Records, Gives Turkey 1st Weightlifting Gold". LA Times. Retrieved 15 December 2018.
  16. ↑ Ledder, Glenn (29 August 2013). Mathematics for the Life Sciences: Calculus, Modeling, Probability, and Dynamical Systems. Springer Science & Business Media. p. 16. ISBN 978-1-4614-7276-6.
  17. ↑ "Legendary weightlifter Süleymanoğlu fights for life". Daily Sabah. September 27, 2017.
  18. ↑ 1996 Olympics Day 4. sportsillustrated.cnn.com
  19. ↑ Vecsey, George (July 22, 1996). "'Pocket Hercules'". The New York Times.
  20. ↑ Beijing 2008 Olympic Games: Mount Olympus Meets the Middle Kingdom. Encyclopædia Britannica
  21. ↑ "Süleymanoglu Naim (TUR)". www.iat.uni-leipzig.de.
  22. ↑ "Who in the world has ever lifted three times their body weight?". chidlovski.net.
  23. ↑ "Happy Birthday to Naim Süleymanoglu!". iwf.sport. 23 January 2017.
  24. 1 2 "Weightlifting legend Naim Süleymanoğlu dies at age 50". Daily Sabah. November 18, 2017.
  25. ↑ Chan, Ted (September 20, 1988). "Naim Suleymanoglu, considered pound-for-pound the world's best weightlifter, shattered..." UPI.
  26. ↑ "'Pocket Hercules,' 3-time Olympic weightlifting champion, dies at 50 | CBC Sports". CBC. Retrieved 2018-01-30.
  27. ↑ "Turkey's Legendary Weightlifter Suleymanoglu Dies at Age 50". Globe Post. November 18, 2017.
  28. 1 2 3 "Champion Turkish weightlifter Süleymanoğlu dies at 50". Hürriyet Daily News. 19 November 2017. Retrieved 19 November 2017.
  29. ↑ "Брат Наима Сулейманоглу: И в Болгарии есть люди, которые хотят стать донорами - Novinite.ru". www.novinite.ru. September 27, 2017.
  30. 1 2 "Naim Süleymanoğlu'nun mezarı açıldı". Hürriyet (in Turkish). 4 July 2018. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
  31. ↑ "Greece's Leonidis bids farewell to friend and rival Naim Süleymanoğlu at funeral". Daily Sabah. Retrieved 22 April 2026.
  32. ↑ "Cep Herkülü: Naim Süleymanoğlu (2019)". www.imdb.com. Retrieved 2020-02-08.
  33. ↑ "Paternity test confirms Naim Süleymanoğlu's Japanese daughter". Daily Sabah. 8 August 2018. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
  34. ↑ Danyıldız, Canan (19 November 2017). "Naim Süleymanoğlu: İtiraf ediyorum, gizlediğim 4 çocuğum var!". Posta. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
  35. ↑ Sabah, Daily (2019-08-07). "Future generations nurtured under Naim's shadow". Daily Sabah. Retrieved 2026-06-04.
  36. ↑ "Naim Süleymanoğlu Memorial House Museum | KÜRE Encyclopedia". kureansiklopedi.com. Retrieved 2026-06-04.
  37. ↑ "Pocket Hercules: Naim Suleymanoglu", Wikipedia, 2026-02-26, retrieved 2026-06-04
  38. ↑ "Pocket Hercules: Naim Suleymanoglu", Wikipedia, 2026-02-26, retrieved 2026-06-04
  39. ↑ "Pocket Hercules: Naim Suleymanoglu", Wikipedia, 2026-02-26, retrieved 2026-06-04
  40. ↑ "World records from 1972 – 1992". Retrieved 2009-10-09.
  41. ↑ "Naim Suleymanoglu". chidlovski.net.
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