Remembering ‘Pocket Hercules’ Naim Süleymanoğlu: A Legend in World Sports
It has been 6 years since the death of Naim Süleymanoğlu, the legendary “Pocket Hercule” of weightlifting. He was an Olympic, world, and European champion who made history as one of the greatest athletes in the world and in Turkish weightlifting.
Born on January 23, 1967, in the Ahatlı village of Kırcaali city in Bulgaria, Süleymanoğlu began his weightlifting journey at the age of 9. He was discovered by his weightlifting coach, Hilmi Pekünlü, and was inspired by the world and Olympic champion athletes from Bulgaria at the time. This led him to become a champion himself.
Süleymanoğlu’s success as a weightlifter was accompanied by his bravery in speaking out against the oppression of Turks in Bulgaria. He became a youth and star champion in Bulgaria at the age of 14 and later fled to Turkey to seek asylum and raise awareness about the persecution of Turks in his home country.
After seeking refuge in the Turkish Embassy in Australia and being brought to Turkey with the support of then-Prime Minister Turgut Özal, Süleymanoğlu continued his career as a weightlifter, representing Turkey in international competitions. He made history by becoming the first Turkish athlete to win three consecutive Olympic gold medals, and was also named the best weightlifter in the world in 1992.
Süleymanoğlu’s legacy extends beyond weightlifting, as he was also the first Turkish athlete to appear on the cover of Time magazine and has been honored with a station on the London Underground and a street in Çankaya named after him.
A movie about his life, titled “Pocket Hercules: Naim Süleymanoğlu”, was released in 2019, depicting his journey to becoming a legendary weightlifter.
On November 18, 2017, Naim Süleymanoğlu passed away at the age of 50 due to liver failure. His death was mourned by many, including President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his rival, Greek weightlifter Valerios Leonidis, who attended his funeral prayer.
Naim Süleymanoğlu was laid to rest in Edirnekapı Cemetery, leaving behind a legacy of greatness and courage that will be remembered for years to come.
