Great Olympians

Biographies - SU

Sul - Sun - Sur - Sus


Naim Suleymanoglu

B. 1967-01-23, Ptichar, Bulgaria, went to Turkey in 1986
Weight-Lifting (3 gold)
1988 1992 1996 2000 HP
-60 kg gold gold 57601.92
-64 kg gold
-62 kg dnf
57601.92

He was born Naim Suleimanov in Bulgaria, one of the two-million strong Turkish minority within Bulgarian borders. A Bulgarian policy of the 1980's tried to assimilate these Turks, even changing their names. Thus Naim became Naum Shalamanov. This was the last straw, he said. 'To take away your name is to take away your character'. As Shalamanov, he became world record holder, and at the 1986 World Championships in Melbourne, during the closing dinner, he left the table and never came back. He flew to Ankara in the prime minister's private jet and was given Turkish citizenship immediately, and another new name, Suleymanoglu. Turkey paid Bulgaria more than $1 million in order for them to waive the Olympic rule barring competitors for three years after changing nationality.
He would have been a favourite at Los Angeles, but for the Bulgarian boycott of the Los Angeles Games.
As Suleimanov, he won the "World Cup" three times (1984,'85,'86).
Also known as the 'Pocket Hercules', he is barely 1.52 m high.
His second and third gold medal can no more enhance his standing in Turkey than his first gold already did.
He failed in his attempt to win a fourth gold in Sydney.


Willy Sulzbacher

Olympic Competitor nr 566


Sun Fuming

China
Judo (1 gold, 1 bronze)
1996 2004 HP
Heavyweight (+72 kg) gold 15900
Heavyweight (+78 kg) bronze
15900


Vicky Sunohara

Canada
Ice Hockey (2 gold, 1 silver)
1998 2002 2006 HP
team silver gold gold 12600
12600


Surzet

Olympic Competitor nr 667


Viorica Susanu

B. 1975-10-29, Galati, Romania
Rowing (4 gold, 1 bronze)
2000 2004 2008 HP
Coxless Pairs gold gold 16000
Eights gold gold bronze 11520
27520


Léon Susse

Olympic Competitor nr 381


last modified 2002-10-29

This page is part of the site "Full Olympians" by Herman De Wael. See here for a full Introduction.