Suleymanoglu remembered on anniversary of death

Naim Suleymanoglu first weightlifter to win gold at 3 consecutive Olympic Games

By Ercan Cakar

ISTANBUL (AA) - Turkish weightlifting legend Naim Suleymanoglu was remembered Wednesday during a ceremony at his gravesite to mark the third anniversary of his death.

Family members, Turkish Weightlifting Federation President Tamer Taspinar, board members and trainers were at the ceremony at Edirnekapi Cemetery.

The Bulgarian-born Suleymanoglu died of liver failure at age 50 after being admitted to a hospital in Istanbul for a liver transplant Oct. 6, 2017.

Nicknamed "Pocket Hercules," Suleymanoglu made history by winning gold in three successive Olympic Games: Atlanta 1996, Barcelona 1992 and Seoul 1988.

He was also named the best athlete on the planet by the International Weightlifting Federation Media Commission in 1992.

* Writing by Muhammed Enes Calli in Ankara

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