Naim Süleymanoglu was a legendary weightlifter known worldwide as the "Pocket Hercules." Standing at 147 centimeters tall, he achieved feats on the lifting platform that seemed almost impossible.
Süleymanoglu was born in Bulgaria to ethnic Turkish parents and began setting world records as a teenager. But it wasn't only sport that changed his destiny.
In 1986, during a competition in Australia, Naim left the Bulgarian team and sought asylum in Turkey. Turkey paid Bulgaria nearly a million dollars to allow him to compete for his new country at the 1988 Olympics.
In Seoul, Süleymanoglu responded with victory. He then won Olympic gold in Barcelona in 1992 and Atlanta in 1996. He became the first weightlifter to win three consecutive Olympic Games.
The story of his rivalry with Greek Valerios Leonidis was particularly touching. They competed for gold on the podium, and after Naim's death, Leonidis came to say goodbye to the man he no longer called a rival, but a friend.
On November 18, 2017, Naim Suleymanoglu passed away. He was only 50 years old.
But the "Pocket Hercules" left behind many more medals. His story is one of freedom, character, incredible strength, and the ability to choose one's own destiny.
