Tommy Kono was a legendary American weightlifter and Olympian who dedicated his life to the sport. Here, we look at everything you need to know about this amazing athlete. From his early beginnings to his lasting legacy, Kono was truly one of a kind. So sit back and learn all about this incredible athlete!
Who is Tommy Kono?
Tommy Kono was an American weightlifter and two-time Olympic gold medalist. He was considered one of the best weightlifters of all time, and he held numerous world records across different weight classes. Kono’s achievements in the sport are unparalleled, and all athletes should remember his story.
Life of Tommy Kono:
On November 10th, 1930, Tommy Kono was born in Sacramento, California. He began weightlifting at the age of 14 after being inspired by the work of American Olympian John Grimek. Kono quickly rose to prominence in the weightlifting world, and by the age of 19, he had already won his first national championship.
Kono’s first international competition came at the 1952 Olympic Games in Helsinki, Finland. He finished in fifth place overall, but he was impressed with his performance and proved that he was a force to be reckoned with on the international stage. Kono went on to have an incredible career, winning numerous world championships and setting multiple world records.
He was one of only two weightlifters in history to have won world titles in three different weight classes (the other is Pyrros Dimas of Greece). Kono’s most notable achievement came at the 1956 Olympic Games in Melbourne, Australia, where he won gold medals in both the middleweight and heavyweight divisions. He was the only American weightlifter to win two gold medals at a single Olympic Games.
Sports Illustrated called Tommy Kono the most beautiful athlete in the world:
In 1962, Tommy Kono was featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated magazine. The publication gave him the name “World’s most beautiful athletes”. This was a huge honor, and it helped to put weightlifting on the map as a mainstream sport.
Tommy Kono Was not only a weightlifter:
In addition to his weightlifting accomplishments, Kono was also an excellent bodybuilder. He won the Mr. World title in 1954 and the Mr. Universe title in 1957. He was the first person to win both titles in the same year. Besides this, Kono was also a successful coach, and he coached the United States weightlifting team at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
Retirement of Tommy Kono:
Kono retired from competition in 1960, but he remained active in the sport as a coach and administrator. He served as the head weightlifting coach for the United States Olympic team at the 1972 and 1976 Olympic Games. Kono also played a key role in the development of drug testing in weightlifting, and he helped to create the International Weightlifting Federation’s (IWF) anti-doping committee.
Arnold Schwarzenegger was impressed by the Tommy Kono to become a bodybuilder:
In 1965, a young Arnold Schwarzenegger was training in Austria when he met Tommy Kono. Kono had just retired from competition, but he was still in incredible shape. Schwarzenegger was so impressed by Kono’s physique that he decided to become a bodybuilder himself.
The legacy of Tommy Kono:
Tommy Kono passed away on December 9th, 2016, at 86. Kono’s legacy will live on forever in the world of weightlifting. He was a true pioneer in the sport and an inspiration to athletes around the globe. Thank you, Tommy Kono, for everything.
Conclusion:
With the help of this article, you should now know everything there is to know about Tommy Kono, one of the greatest weightlifters of all time. If you’re looking for someone to inspire you in your weightlifting journey, look no further than Tommy Kono.
