A weightlifter from the United States made Olympic history after overcoming great obstacles and winning two unforgettable gold medals.
Weightlifting is a discipline that requires great physical and mental strength. Throughout history, many athletes left their mark, such as Charles Vinciwho shone at the Olympic Games and colleagues such as Naim Süleymanolu and Halil Mutlu set records, demonstrating the importance of this sport in the Olympic world.
This sport is not only a competition of strength, but a reflection of perseverance and improvement. Charles’ story is a clear example of how sacrifice and dedication can lead to Olympic glory and a total of seven world records.
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The story of Charles Vinci, the weight lifter who won gold at the Olympic Games
This Olympic legend was born in Cleveland, Ohioin 1933. He grew up in a humble family, his father worked as a janitor and his mother was a housewife. From a young age, he showed a special interest in sports, influenced by his brother Billy, who already practiced the sport. weightlifting. At age 12, Charles attempted to lift a 105-pound barbell without success, but over time, consistency and training allowed him to master that weight and more.
At the age of 15, he started training and although at first he couldn’t afford the gym membership, he knew how to sneak in and practice and then become the biggest star there. At 17, he was already participating in local competitions, and in 1953 he won the Jr. Nationals in Cleveland. With impressive strength and determination, Vinci established himself on the national scene, obtaining his first National Championship in 1954.
In the Melbourne Olympics In 1956, this American athlete faced an unexpected challenge: He was kilos overweight that could keep him out of the Olympic contention.. Desperate to compete, he decided cut hair and tear off part of the skin to reach the regulatory weight. That crazy and audacious sacrifice earned him the gold medal in the category of bantamweight. Four years later, in Rome Olympic Gameshe repeated the feat and took a second gold medal, setting a world record without having to cut his skin.
Following his Olympic victories, Charles continued to compete and achieve success, but in 1962 he began to face personal problems that affected his performance. Although he attempted to return to competition, a back injury forced him to retire. In 2018, the world of sports suffered the loss of this tremendous figure at the age of 85, who knew how to leave an indelible legacy in weightlifting and in the history of the Olympic Games.
Source: Ambito
