In October 2017, Turkey lost a value. In fact, it was not only Turkey that lost its value. The whole world lost an athlete who had his name written in gold in the weightlifting field.
When the subject of a sport comes up, there are important athletes who come to mind, who broke new ground in that sport or whose names have been mentioned for a long time with their success. Naim Suleymanoglu is among these successful athletes.
He made a name for himself with his success in a difficult sport such as weightlifting and made his name written in history.
How did Naim Süleymanoğlu’s life take shape?
Naim Süleymanoğlu was born on January 23, 1967 in Ahatlı village of Mestanlı, Bulgaria, as the son of a mining worker father. He was a naturally gifted child. Discovered by weightlifting trainer Hilmi Pekünlü in a swimming course he attended, Naim Süleymanoğlu started weightlifting at the age of 10, taking the most important step of his life, perhaps when his peers did not know what sports meant yet.
Unfortunately, in this period when Naim Süleymanoğlu coincided, some confusion, unpleasant and undesirable things were happening in Bulgaria. who do not want to be spoken in Turkish Bulgarian government He did not even want to register Naim Süleymanoğlu’s name to the population in Turkish.
Naim Süleymanoğlu, who was extremely uncomfortable with the injustice done to the Turkish people, that is to his own people, found the solution to be a successful athlete in order to make his voice heard in the world. He took his first step in the Bulgarian Youth National Team. Naim, who was removed from the national team for being of Turkish origin, started another boarding school.
He continued his training here and participated in the Bulgarian Championship. Here, too, the achievements of Naim Süleymanoğlu, who made a big difference to his rivals, could not be ignored by the authorities.
Two months after being kicked out of the national team, Naim re-entered the Bulgarian Youth National Team. Like everyone around him, he didn’t know he had such a great talent. While it has been 5 years since I started weightlifting, in 1982 He participated in the World Junior Weightlifting Championship held in Brazil.
He not only participated but also returned to Bulgaria with 2 gold medals. The next year, at the age of sixteen, he broke the record and became the champion. World weightlifting history youngest world record holder imprinted his name with his name. In 1984, he once again made his mark in history as the second weightlifter to lift 3 times his own weight in the clean and jerk category.
Between 1983 and 1986, he broke 13 records in the youth category, 50 in the adult category, and 60 records in total, as well as achieving great success in the European championships. He once again made his fans and supporters proud by winning championships in 52, 56 and 60 kilos.
He was named world weightlifter of the year in 1984, 1985 and 1986. In 1984, due to Bulgaria’s participation in the boycott with the Soviets, the He failed to get the opportunity to participate in the Los Angeles Olympics.
A world-renowned star in weightlifting
Naim Süleymanoğlu was now a world-renowned successful weightlifter. The Bulgarian Government, on the other hand, took measures to prevent Naim’s asylum in Turkey. They decided that they would not take Naim Süleymanoğlu to the international championships. But the world championship held in Melbourne in 1986 was not just an ordinary championship, it was also of great importance.
The Bulgarian Government had to send Naim Süleymanoğlu to this championship. Naim Süleymanoğlu, on the other hand, took refuge in his homeland and nation, Turkey. Naim Süleymanoğlu’s arrival in Turkeybecame a hope for the Turkish people living in Bulgaria. While many of them returned to their original homeland, Turkey, just like Naim Süleymanoğlu, the remaining majority rebelled to have equal conditions with the Bulgarian people and as a result, they had the rights and equality they wanted.
Until 1986, the names of almost all Turks living in Bulgaria were changed to Bulgarian ones. Naim Süleymanoğlu’s name is in Bulgaria Naum Shalamanov was passing. As soon as Naim came to Turkey, he took back his real name, Naim Süleymanoğlu.
Naim Süleymanoğlu, who came to Turkey in December 1986, changed not only the country he lived in, but also the country he represented in sports competitions. He later explained this situation by saying, “I don’t want to shed a sweat for those who ignore the Turks.”
Since it is forbidden for the athletes to change their country, he was suspended for one year with the decision of the International Weightlifting Federation in 1987. The President of the period, Turgut Özal, was happy and proud, like all Turkish people, that a successful and talented athlete like Naim Süleymanoğlu was found within the borders of our country. He personally took care of Naim Süleymanoğlu.
Turkish youth needed him
In order for Naim Süleymanoğlu to participate in the 1988 Seoul Olympics, approximately 1 million 200 thousand dollars was paid to the Bulgarian Government. Turgut Özal later showed the value of Naim once again by saying, “Naim paid us many times over for this payment”.
Naim Süleymanoğlu decided to quit weightlifting at the age of 21 and 2 years after he came to Turkey. It was the period that made him give up on this decision. President Turgut Ozal has been.
He suggested that Turkish youth need him and that he should think about this a little bit. Naim Süleymanoğlu, following the advice of Turgut Özal, decided to set an example for Turkish youth with his sports and continue on the way to add new ones to his success.
Turkey’s pride Naim Süleymanoğlu
While Turkey could not win a gold medal other than wrestling before Naim Süleymanoğlu, Naim Süleymanoğlu won many gold medals on behalf of our country, moreover, he lifted it in the clean and jerk. He made history with 190 kilograms, which is 10 kilograms more than three times his own weight.
In 1992, he won a gold medal at the Barcelona Olympics by gaining a strong advantage over his opponents.
He was a three-time Olympic champion at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, 1992 in Barcelona and 1996 in Atlanta. In addition to breaking the world record forty-six times, he became world champion seven times. He made history again as the first Turkish athlete to be on the cover of Time magazine in 1988.
According to many sports authorities, he is the best weightlifter of all time, and in 1992 by the International Weightlifting Press Commission “World’s Best Athlete” was chosen. It was nicknamed because it was small but very strong. Pocket Hercules‘Stop.
Naim Süleymanoğlu with the unknown
Did you know that Naim Süleymanoğlu, who does not want to be mentioned with any event other than his private life and sports career, failed in weightlifting class during his university years?
Naim Süleymanoğlu, who was studying at the Department of Physical Education at Ankara Gazi Education Institute, failed his class because of his bad style and absenteeism. In addition to all these, Naim Süleymanoğlu made it clear in an interview that he had never been married and that he did not need it, but that his children bore his surname, and that he always took care of his children and would go out. On October 6, 2017, Naim Süleymanoğlu underwent a liver transplant due to liver failure due to cirrhosis.
He was diagnosed on 11 November 2017 due to cerebral hemorrhage and associated edema after transplantation. operated on. Successful weightlifter in the history of Turkish sports, Naim Süleymanoğlu, died on 18 November 2017 at the age of 50. His body was removed from the Fatih Mosque on Sunday, 19 November 2017, and was buried in Edirnekapı Martyrs’ Cemetery.