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The history of weightlifting is rich and impressive, full of athletes who have not only broken records, but also redefined the limits of what is physically possible.
From the first Modern Olympic Games to the most recent world championships, these weightlifters have inspired generations with their displays of strength, technique and dedication. So we’ve created a list of the best weightlifters of all time!
The weightlifters on our list come from different countries and different eras, each making a unique contribution to the sport. Whether through impressive world records, Olympic titles or simply the ability to inspire other athletes, each of these athletes has left an indelible mark on the history of weightlifting.
Now it’s time to see who the 20 best weightlifters of all time are!
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The 20 best weightlifters of all time: complete list
- Vasily Alekseyev
- Naim Süleymanoğlu
- Pyrros Dimas
- Leonid Taranenko
- Halil Mutlu
- Ilya Ilyin
- Andrey Chemerkin
- Liao Hui
- Yurik Vardanyan
- Waldemar Baszanowski
- Akakios Kakiasvilis
- Paul Anderson
- Hossein Rezazadeh
- Yuri Vlasov
- Leonidas Sabanis
- Zhan Xugang
- Tommy Kono
- Yao Jie
- Lü Xiaojun
- Hafthor Bjornsson
20 best weightlifters of all time: find out more about them
1. Vasily Alekseyev
- Titles:
- Two-time Olympic champion (1972, 1976)
- Eight-time world champion
- Eight-time European champion
- Team: Soviet Union
- Fun facts: He broke 80 world records during his career.
- Life Story: Alekseyev started weightlifting at the age of 18 and quickly made a name for himself. Known for his brute strength and technique, he dominated the sport in the 1970s.
2. Naim Süleymanoğlu
- Titles:
- Three times Olympic champion (1988, 1992, 1996)
- Seven-time world champion
- Team: Turkey
- Fun facts: Nicknamed “The Pocketsize Weightlifter” due to his short stature (1.47 m).
- Life Story: Süleymanoğlu was born in Bulgaria and became a naturalized Turkish citizen in 1986. He is widely regarded as one of the best weightlifters of all time.
3. Pyrros Dimas
- Titles:
- Three times Olympic champion (1992, 1996, 2000)
- Four-time world champion
- Team: Greece
- Fun facts: He is a national hero in Greece and was the Olympic flag bearer in 2004.
- Life story: Dimas was born in Albania and moved to Greece in 1991. His aggressive style and impeccable technique have made him a legend of the sport.
4. Leonid Taranenko
- Titles:
- Olympic champion (1980)
- World Champion
- Team: Soviet Union
- Fun facts: Holds the world record for the greatest total weight lift (475 kg).
- Life Story: Taranenko began his career in a Soviet sports club and quickly rose through the ranks due to his exceptional talent and strength.
5. Halil Mutlu
- Titles:
- Three times Olympic champion (1996, 2000, 2004)
- Five-time world champion
- Team: Turkey
- Fun facts: Also known as “Little Hercules”.
- Life Story: Mutlu started training at the age of 10 and quickly became one of the world’s greatest weightlifters, dominating the 56 kg category.
6. Ilya Ilyin
- Titles:
- Two-time Olympic champion (2008, 2012)
- Four-time world champion
- Team: Kazakhstan
- Fun facts: Known for his impressive strength and technique.
- Life Story: Ilyin started weightlifting at the age of 12 and quickly became a prodigy, breaking world records in several weight categories.
7. Andrey Chemerkin
- Titles:
- Olympic champion (1996)
- Three-time world champion
- Team: Russia
- Fun facts: Known for his enormous physical presence and brute strength.
- Life Story: Chemerkin began lifting weights as a teenager and quickly rose to the top of the sport in the 1990s.
8. Liao Hui
- Titles:
- Olympic champion (2008)
- Three-time world champion
- Team: China
- Fun facts: Holds several world records in the up to 69 kg category.
- Life Story: Hui began weightlifting training as a child and is known for his refined technique and consistency in international competitions.
9. Yurik Vardanyan
- Titles:
- Olympic champion (1980)
- Seven-time world champion
- Team: Soviet Union
- Fun facts: First weightlifter to exceed 400 kg in total without being a super-heavyweight.
- Life Story: Vardanyan was born in Armenia and quickly made a name for himself, becoming one of the most dominant weightlifters of his time.
10. Waldemar Baszanowski
- Titles:
- Two-time Olympic champion (1964, 1968)
- Five-time world champion
- Team: Poland
- Fun facts: Considered one of the best weightlifters in Europe.
- Life Story: Baszanowski began weightlifting training as a youth and quickly became one of the sport’s most respected athletes.
11. Akakios Kakiasvilis
- Titles:
- Three-time Olympic champion (1992, 1996, 2000)
- World champion
- Team: Greece
- Fun facts: Born in Georgia, he competed for the Soviet Union before becoming a naturalized Greek citizen.
- Life story: Kakiasvilis is known for his impeccable technique and his ability to excel in international competitions.
12. Paul Anderson
- Titles:
- Olympic champion (1956)
- World champion
- Team: United States
- Fun facts: Known as “The World’s Strongest Man”.
- Life Story: Anderson started lifting weights as a teenager and quickly became one of the most famous weightlifters in the world, with unparalleled strength.
13. Hossein Rezazadeh
- Titles:
- Two-time Olympic champion (2000, 2004)
- Four-time world champion
- Team: Iran
- Fun facts: Known as “The Iranian Hercules”.
- Life Story: Rezazadeh began weightlifting training as a teenager and quickly rose to the top of the sport, breaking several world records.
14. Yuri Vlasov
- Titles:
- Olympic champion (1960)
- World Champion
- Team: Soviet Union
- Fun facts: Known for his physical and intellectual strength, he is also a writer.
- Life Story: Vlasov began his sporting career as a multi-talented athlete before concentrating on weightlifting, where he found great success.
15. Leonidas Sabanis
- Titles:
- Two-time Olympic medalist (1996, 2000)
- World champion
- Team: Greece
- Fun facts: Originally competed for Albania before becoming a naturalized Greek.
- Life Story: Sabanis excelled from an early age and was a consistent competitor in international competitions for over a decade.
16. Zhan Xugang
- Titles:
- Two-time Olympic champion (1996, 2000)
- World champion
- Team: China
- Fun facts: He was the first Chinese to win two Olympic gold medals in weightlifting.
- Life Story: Xugang began weightlifting training as a child and quickly became a national and international star.
17. Tommy Kono
- Titles:
- Two-time Olympic champion (1952, 1956)
- Six-time world champion
- Team: United States
- Fun facts: Holds world records in four different weight categories.
- Life Story: Kono began training in a Japanese-American internment camp during the Second World War and went on to become one of the most respected weightlifters in history.
18. Yao Jie
- Titles:
- Olympic champion (2000)
- World champion
- Team: China
- Fun facts: Holds several world records in the up to 77 kg category.
- Life Story: Jie began weightlifting training as a child and quickly excelled in national and international competitions.
19. Lü Xiaojun
- Titles: Two Olympic gold medals (2012, 2020), five-time world champion.
- Team: China.
- Fun facts: Known for his technical style and phenomenal strength.
- Life story: Lü is one of today’s most consistent and successful weightlifters, inspiring many young athletes.
20. Hafthor Bjornsson
- Titles:
- World Weightlifting and Strongman Champion
- Team: Iceland
- Fun facts:
- Known for his role as “Mountain” in the series “Game of Thrones”.
- Life story:
- Born in 1988 in Reykjavik, Iceland, he is one of the strongest men in the world.
The 20 best weightlifters of all time: complete list
- Vasily Alekseyev
- Naim Süleymanoğlu
- Pyrros Dimas
- Leonid Taranenko
- Halil Mutlu
- Ilya Ilyin
- Andrey Chemerkin
- Liao Hui
- Yurik Vardanyan
- Waldemar Baszanowski
- Akakios Kakiasvilis
- Paul Anderson
- Hossein Rezazadeh
- Yuri Vlasov
- Leonidas Sabanis
- Zhan Xugang
- Tommy Kono
- Yao Jie
- Lü Xiaojun
- Hafthor Bjornsson
The 20 best weightlifters of all time
These athletes have not only broken records and won titles, but have also inspired millions around the world with their stories of overcoming and achievement. Each name on this list represents a milestone in the history of weightlifting, reflecting different eras, training styles and sporting cultures!
These, then, are the 20 best weightlifters of all time. If you liked this content, keep browsing the site and take the opportunity to find out more about weightlifting and many other sports.
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