Weightlifting is the ultimate test of physical strength in the Olympics. Over the years, we’ve witnessed incredible feats and world records set on this grand stage. Here, we highlight the top 10 greatest weightlifters who made history.
| Rank | Name | Country | Olympic Appearances | Gold Medals | World Championships |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | Liu Chunhong | China | 2 | 2 | 2 Golds |
| 9 | Waldemar Baszanowski | Poland | 2 | 2 | 5 Golds, 5 Silvers |
| 8 | Charles Vinci | USA | 2 | 2 | 2 Silvers |
| 7 | Zhou Lulu | China | 1 | 1 | 1 Gold, 1 Silver |
| 6 | Leonid Zhabotynsky | Soviet Union | 2 | 2 | 4 Golds, 1 Bronze |
| 5 | Paul Anderson | USA | 1 | 1 | 1 Gold |
| 4 | Hossein Rezazadeh | Iran | 2 | 2 | 4 Golds, 1 Bronze |
| 3 | Naim Suleymanoglu | Turkey | 3 | 3 | 5 Golds |
| 2 | Halil Mutlu | Turkey | 3 | 3 | 5 Golds, 2 Silvers |
| 1 | Pyrros Dimas | Greece | 4 | 3 | 3 Golds, 1 Silver |
10. Liu Chunhong (China)
Liu Chunhong is the only woman to win gold medals in weightlifting at two consecutive Olympics (2004 and 2008) in the 69 kg class. She set Olympic records in both the Snatch (128 kg) and Clean & Jerk (158 kg), totaling a world record of 286 kg.
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9. Waldemar Baszanowski (Poland)
Waldemar Baszanowski competed in the 67.5 kg class and won gold in 1964 and 1968. He is celebrated for winning 10 medals at World Championships, the most by any weightlifter.
8. Charles Vinci (USA)
Charles Vinci won gold medals in the 1956 and 1960 Olympics in the Bantamweight class. He set 12 world records during his career and also won two gold medals at the Pan American Games.
7. Zhou Lulu (China)
Zhou Lulu became the strongest woman in the world in 2012, winning gold by lifting a total of 333 kg, edging out Russian Tatiana Kashirina by just 1 kg.
6. Leonid Zhabotynsky (Soviet Union)
Leonid Zhabotynsky set 19 world records during his career and won gold in the super heavyweight category in both 1964 and 1968. He also achieved success in world and European championships.
5. Paul Anderson (USA)
Known as the strongest man ever, Paul Anderson won gold in 1956 and set a world record with a backlift of 2,845 kg, which solidified his reputation.
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4. Hossein Rezazadeh (Iran)
Hossein Rezazadeh set the world record in the super heavyweight class, lifting a total of 472.5 kg in 2000 and matching it in 2004. He won two Olympic golds and multiple championships.
3. Naim Suleymanoglu (Turkey)
Naim Suleymanoglu won three consecutive Olympic golds from 1988 to 1996. He also secured 7 World Championship titles throughout his career.
2. Halil Mutlu (Turkey)
Halil Mutlu is the most successful sportsman in Turkey’s history. This weightlifter has achieved remarkable success, winning three Olympic gold medals in 1996, 2000, and 2004. Over his 14-year career from 1994 to 2008, he also claimed five World Championship titles and ten European Championship titles.
Mutlu is one of only three men ever to lift three times his own bodyweight. Additionally, he is the fourth weightlifter in history to win three gold medals in a row. Dominating his weight class during the 1990s, he earned a total of 25 gold medals in his impressive career.
1. Pyrros Dimas (Greece)
Pyrros Dimas is a famous Greek weightlifter who won three consecutive gold medals at the Olympic Games from 1992 to 2000. During his fourth Olympics in Athens in 2004, a knee injury affected his chances of winning another gold medal, but he still secured a bronze medal.
After earning the bronze, Dimas left his shoes on the weightlifting podium in his hometown, signaling his retirement from the sport. He is celebrated as the greatest Greek athlete ever and is remembered as one of the best Olympic weightlifters in history.
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