Halil Mutlu
Encyclopedia
Halil Mutlu is a professional Turkish
weightlifter with several World and Olympic
championships. Mutlu is one of the four weightlifters achieving three consecutive gold medals at the Olympic Games. His weightlifting career includes five World championships, nine European championships and more than 20 world records at 52 kg (114.6 lb), 54 kg (119 lb) and 56 kg (123.5 lb) combined.
and went on to win the gold medal by 7.5 kg. At the 1999 World Championships he beat silver medal winner Adrian Jigău by around 20 kg and set a new world record. He remained undefeated until the 2000 Olympics in Sydney
, where he was even more dominant than he had been in Atlanta
. This time he set world records in both the snatch and the clean and jerk
and won by 17.5 kg in the 56 kg category.
He was suffering from a shoulder injury in 2003 and temporarily moved to the 62 kg class. His career appeared in doubt after a torn right rotator cuff
and ruptured biceps tendon
sidelined him for most of 2002.
Mutlu dominated in his weight class since mid-1990s. But prior to Athens
, several experts became skeptical that Mutlu would be able to pass his younger and more aggressive opponents at the Olympics in 2004. By the time of the Athens Olympics in 2004, Mutlu won the world championship five times, although he had missed the 2002 season because of injury. In Athens he out lifted Meijin Wu of China by 5 kg in the snatch and then extended his lead in the jerk to earn victory by 7.5 kg. At 31, he captured his third consecutive gold medal at the Olympics in Athens. In 2005, Mutlu was banned from international competition by the International Weightlifting Federation for 2 years for use of anabolic steroid
Nandrolone
, although he insists that he never knowingly took steroids. The Turkish Weightlifting Federation itself had been suspended by the IWF for "repeated anti-doping violations" until May 2006. He pulled out of the 2008 Beijing Olympics stating that he was not able to "lift my targeted weight in practice." As a penalty, he was expelled from the ASKI.
, Turkey since the early 1990s. He is a member of the Konya Kombassan Club in Konya
and is coached by Ibrahim Elmali. Beside weightlifting, Mutlu enjoys wrestling
.
was his idol and, for some time, his coach in weightlifting. It is said that Mutlu even imitates Süleymanoğlu by walking with his hands in his pockets. In fact, there are many similarities in the biographies of both Suleymanoglu and Mutlu.
Both are ethnic Turks who were born and grew up in Bulgaria, a country famous for its world-class lifters. Both moved to Turkey. However, unlike Süleymanoğlu who entered the international weightlifting arena representing Bulgaria, and defected during the Communist era, Mutlu relocated to Turkey at an early age in his career, after the fall of Communism
. Both became legends of weightlifting while competing in lighter weight classes. And of course, both won three Olympic gold medals. Despite many similarities with Süleymanoğlu, Mutlu is an outstanding lifter of his own merit. He proved to be a unique athlete in terms of his technical skills and competitive spirit. Due to personal charisma and success in sports Mutlu is considered a successor of legendary "Pocket Hercules" Naim Süleymanoğlu.
World Championships
European Championships
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
weightlifter with several World and Olympic
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
championships. Mutlu is one of the four weightlifters achieving three consecutive gold medals at the Olympic Games. His weightlifting career includes five World championships, nine European championships and more than 20 world records at 52 kg (114.6 lb), 54 kg (119 lb) and 56 kg (123.5 lb) combined.
Career
In 1994, he won both the European and world championships, titles that would soon become commonplace for him. He made his first Olympic appearance in 1992 in the 52 kg category and finished fifth. In 1996, in the 54 kg category, the reigning world champion and world record holder, Mutlu broke the world record in the snatchSnatch (weightlifting)
The snatch is one of the two olympic weightlifting events .The essence of the event is to lift a barbell from the platform to locked arms overhead in a smooth continuous movement. The barbell is pulled as high as the lifter can manage at which point the barbell is flipped overhead...
and went on to win the gold medal by 7.5 kg. At the 1999 World Championships he beat silver medal winner Adrian Jigău by around 20 kg and set a new world record. He remained undefeated until the 2000 Olympics in Sydney
2000 Summer Olympics
The Sydney 2000 Summer Olympic Games or the Millennium Games/Games of the New Millennium, officially known as the Games of the XXVII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated between 15 September and 1 October 2000 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
, where he was even more dominant than he had been in Atlanta
1996 Summer Olympics
The 1996 Summer Olympics of Atlanta, officially known as the Games of the XXVI Olympiad and unofficially known as the Centennial Olympics, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1996 in Atlanta, Georgia, United States....
. This time he set world records in both the snatch and the clean and jerk
Clean and jerk
The clean and jerk is one of the two Olympic weightlifting events .The clean portion of the lift refers to the lifter explosively pulling the weight from the floor to a racked position across deltoids and clavicles...
and won by 17.5 kg in the 56 kg category.
He was suffering from a shoulder injury in 2003 and temporarily moved to the 62 kg class. His career appeared in doubt after a torn right rotator cuff
Rotator cuff
In anatomy, the rotator cuff is the group of muscles and their tendons that act to stabilize the shoulder. The four muscles of the rotator cuff, along with the teres major muscle, the coracobrachialis muscle and the deltoid, make up the seven scapulohumeral muscles of the human body.-Function:The...
and ruptured biceps tendon
Tendon
A tendon is a tough band of fibrous connective tissue that usually connects muscle to bone and is capable of withstanding tension. Tendons are similar to ligaments and fasciae as they are all made of collagen except that ligaments join one bone to another bone, and fasciae connect muscles to other...
sidelined him for most of 2002.
Mutlu dominated in his weight class since mid-1990s. But prior to Athens
2004 Summer Olympics
The 2004 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad, was a premier international multi-sport event held in Athens, Greece from August 13 to August 29, 2004 with the motto Welcome Home. 10,625 athletes competed, some 600 more than expected, accompanied by 5,501 team...
, several experts became skeptical that Mutlu would be able to pass his younger and more aggressive opponents at the Olympics in 2004. By the time of the Athens Olympics in 2004, Mutlu won the world championship five times, although he had missed the 2002 season because of injury. In Athens he out lifted Meijin Wu of China by 5 kg in the snatch and then extended his lead in the jerk to earn victory by 7.5 kg. At 31, he captured his third consecutive gold medal at the Olympics in Athens. In 2005, Mutlu was banned from international competition by the International Weightlifting Federation for 2 years for use of anabolic steroid
Anabolic steroid
Anabolic steroids, technically known as anabolic-androgen steroids or colloquially simply as "steroids", are drugs that mimic the effects of testosterone and dihydrotestosterone in the body. They increase protein synthesis within cells, which results in the buildup of cellular tissue ,...
Nandrolone
Nandrolone
Nandrolone is an anabolic steroid that may be present naturally in the human body, albeit in minute quantities of less than 0.4 ng/ml. Nandrolone is most commonly sold commercially as its decanoate ester and less commonly as a phenylpropionate ester...
, although he insists that he never knowingly took steroids. The Turkish Weightlifting Federation itself had been suspended by the IWF for "repeated anti-doping violations" until May 2006. He pulled out of the 2008 Beijing Olympics stating that he was not able to "lift my targeted weight in practice." As a penalty, he was expelled from the ASKI.
Personal life
Mutlu is married and has lived in AnkaraAnkara
Ankara is the capital of Turkey and the country's second largest city after Istanbul. The city has a mean elevation of , and as of 2010 the metropolitan area in the entire Ankara Province had a population of 4.4 million....
, Turkey since the early 1990s. He is a member of the Konya Kombassan Club in Konya
Konya
Konya is a city in the Central Anatolia Region of Turkey. The metropolitan area in the entire Konya Province had a population of 1,036,027 as of 2010, making the city seventh most populous in Turkey.-Etymology:...
and is coached by Ibrahim Elmali. Beside weightlifting, Mutlu enjoys wrestling
Wrestling
Wrestling is a form of grappling type techniques such as clinch fighting, throws and takedowns, joint locks, pins and other grappling holds. A wrestling bout is a physical competition, between two competitors or sparring partners, who attempt to gain and maintain a superior position...
.
His idol, Naim Süleymanoğlu
Mutlu is nicknamed the "Little Dynamo", but is called also "Little Naim" because Naim SüleymanoğluNaim Süleymanoglu
Naim Süleymanoğlu , formerly known as Naim Suleimanov , is a Turkish World and Olympic Champion in weightlifting...
was his idol and, for some time, his coach in weightlifting. It is said that Mutlu even imitates Süleymanoğlu by walking with his hands in his pockets. In fact, there are many similarities in the biographies of both Suleymanoglu and Mutlu.
Both are ethnic Turks who were born and grew up in Bulgaria, a country famous for its world-class lifters. Both moved to Turkey. However, unlike Süleymanoğlu who entered the international weightlifting arena representing Bulgaria, and defected during the Communist era, Mutlu relocated to Turkey at an early age in his career, after the fall of Communism
Revolutions of 1989
The Revolutions of 1989 were the revolutions which overthrew the communist regimes in various Central and Eastern European countries.The events began in Poland in 1989, and continued in Hungary, East Germany, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia and...
. Both became legends of weightlifting while competing in lighter weight classes. And of course, both won three Olympic gold medals. Despite many similarities with Süleymanoğlu, Mutlu is an outstanding lifter of his own merit. He proved to be a unique athlete in terms of his technical skills and competitive spirit. Due to personal charisma and success in sports Mutlu is considered a successor of legendary "Pocket Hercules" Naim Süleymanoğlu.
Highlights
- World junior champion (1993),
- Five-time world champion (2003, 2001, 1999, 1998, 1994 - 1st; 1995, 1993 - 2nd.),
- Nine-time European champion (2005, 2003, 2001, 2000, 1999, 1997, 1996, 1995, 1994),
- 25 gold medals (8 Snatch, 8 Clean and Jerk, 9 Total) in total at European Championships, winner of the most gold medals second after David RigertDavid RigertDavid Adamovich Rigert is a former Olympic weightlifter for the USSR. Rigert became one of the greatest weightlifters in history. He is Jewish....
with 27 gold medals, - Only fourth weightlifter to win three Olympic gold medals (2004, 2000, 1996),
- Virtually unchallenged since 1996; no active lifter has beaten Mutlu in a world-class event,
- Named as the "Sportsman of the year 1999" in Turkey,
- He is one of four men in history to lift three times his bodyweight,
- As a winner of three Olympic gold medals, Halil Mutlu definitely belongs to the all-time pantheon of the best Olympic weightlifters.
Medals
Olympics| Rank | Discipline | Snatch | Clean&Jerk | Total | Place | Date |
| –56 kg | 135.0 | 160.0 | 295.0 | Athens Athens Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state... , GRE Greece Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe.... |
Aug 17, 2004 | |
| –56 kg | 137.5 | 167.5 WR | 305.0 CWR | Sydney Sydney Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people... , AUS Australia Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area... |
Sep 16, 2000 | |
| –54 kg | 132.5 | 155.0 | 287.5 | Atlanta, GA, United States | 1996 |
World Championships
| Rank | Discipline | Snatch | Clean&Jerk | Total | Place | Date |
| –62 kg | 147.5 | 175.0 | 322.5 | Vancouver Vancouver Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,... , CAN Canada Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean... |
Aug 6, 2003 | |
| –56 kg | 138.5 CWR | 162.5 | 301.0 | Antalya Antalya Antalya is a city on the Mediterranean coast of southwestern Turkey. With a population 1,001,318 as of 2010. It is the eighth most populous city in Turkey and country's biggest international sea resort.- History :... , TUR Turkey Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe... |
Nov 4, 2001 | |
| –56 kg | 168.0 CWR | Trenčín Trencín Trenčín is a city in western Slovakia of the central Váh River valley near the Czech border, around from Bratislava. It has a population of more than 56,000, which makes it the ninth largest municipality of the country and is the seat of the Trenčín Region and the Trenčín District... , SVK Slovakia The Slovak Republic is a landlocked state in Central Europe. It has a population of over five million and an area of about . Slovakia is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south... |
Apr 24, 2001 | |||
| –56 kg | 137.5 | 165.0 | 302.5 WR | Athens Athens Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state... , GRE Greece Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe.... |
Nov 22, 1999 | |
| –56 kg | 135.0 | 160.0 | 295.0 | Lahti Lahti Lahti is a city and municipality in Finland.Lahti is the capital of the Päijänne Tavastia region. It is situated on a bay at the southern end of lake Vesijärvi about north-east of the capital Helsinki... , FIN Finland Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside... |
1998 | |
| –54 kg | 130.0 | Guangzhou Guangzhou Guangzhou , known historically as Canton or Kwangchow, is the capital and largest city of the Guangdong province in the People's Republic of China. Located in southern China on the Pearl River, about north-northwest of Hong Kong, Guangzhou is a key national transportation hub and trading port... , CHN China Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture... |
1995 | |||
| –54 kg | 155.0 | 285.0 | Guangzhou Guangzhou Guangzhou , known historically as Canton or Kwangchow, is the capital and largest city of the Guangdong province in the People's Republic of China. Located in southern China on the Pearl River, about north-northwest of Hong Kong, Guangzhou is a key national transportation hub and trading port... , CHN China Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture... |
1995 | ||
| –54 kg | 130.0 | 160.0 | 290.0 | Istanbul Istanbul Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and... , TUR Turkey Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe... |
1994 | |
| –54 kg | 122.5 | 152.5 | 275.0 | Melbourne Melbourne Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater... , AUS Australia Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area... |
1993 |
European Championships
| Rank | Discipline | Snatch | Clean&Jerk | Total | Place | Date |
| –62 kg | 140.0 | 167.5 | 307.5 | Sofia Sofia Sofia is the capital and largest city of Bulgaria and the 12th largest city in the European Union with a population of 1.27 million people. It is located in western Bulgaria, at the foot of Mount Vitosha and approximately at the centre of the Balkan Peninsula.Prehistoric settlements were excavated... , BUL Bulgaria Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east... |
Apr 20, 2005 | |
| –56 kg | 120.0 | 149.0 | 269.0 | Lignano Sabbiadoro Lignano Sabbiadoro Lignano Sabbiadoro is a village and comune within the province of Udine, in the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region . It is one of the main summer resorts in northern Italy and in the Adriatic Sea coast.-History:... , ITA Italy Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and... |
Apr 14, 2008 | |
| –56 kg | 138.5 | 168.0 | 305.0 | Loutraki Loutraki Loutraki is a seaside resort located 84 km W of Athens and 4 km NE of Corinth in the Prefecture of Corinthia, Greece. Loutraki is the seat of the municipality Loutraki-Perachora. The town is well-known for its vast natural springs and its therapeutic spas.-History:In antiquity a town... , GRE Greece Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe.... |
Apr 15, 2003 | |
| –56 kg | 135.0 | 165.0 | 300.0 | Sofia Sofia Sofia is the capital and largest city of Bulgaria and the 12th largest city in the European Union with a population of 1.27 million people. It is located in western Bulgaria, at the foot of Mount Vitosha and approximately at the centre of the Balkan Peninsula.Prehistoric settlements were excavated... , BUL Bulgaria Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east... |
2000 | |
| –56 kg | 135.0 | 160.0 | 295.0 | Coruña, ESP Spain Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula... |
1999 |
- CWR: Current world record
- WR: World record
See also
- Athletes with most gold medals in one event at the Olympic Games