An additional fact: Leonidas has great respect for Naim and he came to Turkey to attend Naim Süleymanoglu's funeral. Huge respect for Leonidas as well.
Naim is an absolute GOAT. Its hard to believe what he achieved in the sport. 1988 Seul Olympiad performance still remains the scariest of all time. What a great legend, what a man…..
A guy from Turkiye here. Having met Naim and talked to him, I agree. He was supremely talented from a very young age, far more talented than any other weightlifter. And he was at his prime already at the age of 20. But, he did not fully preserve that top performance, maybe to a certain extent upto 1996. I agree that Leonidas made great improvement over time and was almost as good as Naim in 1996. And in 2000, don't forget Peshalov. Both of these guys were far behind Naim in 1992 Barcelona. They caught him and then in 2000... Naim was smoking in February 2000 before the olympiads in Sydney. Finally, the common point of all these guys is that compared to today's weightlifters, they were far better, and they were also very humble.
More like one in a Trillion. Not to mention youngest ever to hold the world record for adult males, not to mention 1984 Friendship games Gold which Soviet bloke boycoutted. And what they lifted made 1984 Los Angeles like training.
After Naim broke all the records, the categories in which Naim competed were cancelled. Because they know that it is no longer possible to break a new record in that weight.
Exactly. Honestly quite disgusting how they changed it with Soviet athletes and then Naim... The record's category that is 6kg heavier still has lower records than Naim.
Just to show how insane Naim's 1988 performance was, he won the gold in 60kg category with a total of 342.5kg (152.5kg+190kg). In the next weight division (67.5kg), Joachim Kunz won the gold with a total of 340kg (150kg+190kg). So, Naim could have competed in the 67.5kg body weight division and still won the gold. As far as I know, Naim is the only weightlifter to achieve this in an Olympic competition.
no, there are several others. The most striking one is Yurik Vardanyan who won with 400kg at 82kg - he would have won also the 90 and 100kg - that's mind blowing.
@@ikipemiko That is why Yurik is the GOAT, his 1980 world records would have won him 3 Gold medals in 3 different weight divisions 82Kg, 90Kg and 100Kg. It has never been achieved since.
And if he hadn't shot for a world-record out the gate in Sydney, he could have had another one. It's reasonable to speculate about him getting five Olympic gold medals.
Since you know Dimas in person, please don't tell him that he's an Albanian. He is a Greek born and raised in Albania and later on moved in Greece; just like many Turks born and raised in Bulgaria. The situation in the Balkans was a bit more complicated back in these days.
Yes I understand the sensitivity of the issue. He is DEFINITELY GREEK and is a phenomenal representative of his country and a very cool guy to work with 💪
@@labinotberisha310 not even close dude.He was born in voreia hpeiros which is a greek place located in Albania.People from there are greeks who stayed without their will there.You can study little bit more to learn sone things
@@bonerici yes you can. Lasha has the highest total in weightlifting that makes him the goat in his class. The fact that he's surpassed everyone thats lifted before him and is still competing confirms that.
Vasili Alexeev 80 World Records 81 Soviet Records 8x World Champion 8x European Champion 2x Olympic Champion First man to break the 500 lb barrier Alexeev competed frequently so everybody had a shot at him, yet he still dominated. His 80 world records are true official first time best lifts, not repeats of past lifts. There weren't any weight class changes during his reign. All of his records were in the 110+ kilo class.
Most of those records were by adding a half kilo at a time, and the "press" was discontinued due to sloppy performances. Pisarenko had far fewer "records" but exceeded Alexeev in both lifts.
@@charlessavoie2367 Yes, that's true. But to continually break records if even by a half kilo is a remarkable feat of consistency. Pisarenko, if he'd had a longer career might have set records even beyond Lasha's capabilities. I saw Pisarenko compete. He was very powerful.
Yes, he was the greatest. We do not know how much he was able to lift, because in his peak time no one was close enough to push him to show his real strength.
Süleymanoğlu is the first and only weightlifter to have snatched 2.5 times his body weight Beat that!! Also He is the only weightlifter to date to clean and jerk 10 kilos more than triple his bodyweight
@@ieod-ri2zp everyone else used/use steroids, till today, if nobody ever used steroids and everyone competed clean, Naim would still be number one, and every current champion would still be a champion
Aloha from Hawaii, Sir: Thank you for sharing the top 6 male world wide Olympic Weightlifters of all the time. I am glad you based on performance on the world and olympic level, and base on "pound for pound" in their respected classes. It nice you have included Tommy Kono from Hawaii on your list, and the only American to excel in his time. I had the pleasure to have Tomny Kono train in those hay days, and the endless stories and inspirations he shared with us. Aloha and Take Care!
I am Bulgarian, the reason there were so many good weightlifters coming from Bulgaria in the past was that we had a very good weightlifschool headed by the coach Ivan Abadzhiev. He trained both Naim Suleymanoglu (Наим Сюлейманоглу) and Halil Mutlu (Халил Мутлу), as well as other Bulgarian weightlifters - Norair Nurikyan, Yordan Bikov, Andon Nikolov, Yanko Rusev, Asen Zlatev who won gold at the Olympics. Also at the time the socialist one party state invested lots of money in sport and encouraged participation in sport at all levels.
Leave it to petty politicians to ruin what athletes trained for years to accomplish. Jimmy Carter did it in 1980 after the Russian excursion into Afghanistan. Then, in 1984, the Soviets and the Warsaw Pact did it to "get even" with the American boycott.
@@bonesh0ckerz I see what you`re saying. But it is more complicated than that. Please check how Sinclair Coefficient is calculated in weight-lifting, then you will understand what I`m saying
Nice video and thank you. But not one mention to Vasily Alekseyev?? The man who set up the world record something like 80 times? I think he should be in that list.
Dimas May have won more medals But you need to understand that Naim Retired a few times during his career and was begged to come back. He would of won Gold in 1984 if Bulgaria participated and his heart was not in it in 2000 as he got ahead of himself with minimal training and a optimistic snatch weight. He lifted 3x his body weight so many times at 17 years old!. The Man was a legend and I was blessed to meet him as my father was part of the crew In Melbourne who helped him defect to Turkey. Great video .May he rest in peace
Lasha didn't make your list, but he is coming for it. He just won his second Olympic title, beating the second place finisher by 47 kilos and breaking all 3 world records in the division(held by himself). I hope he can keep up and go for 4 Olympic titles to make himself the undisputed GOAT of the sport.
Yeah. I'm glad he's not on lists yet because he's not even close to being done. When he hits the mythical 500kg thats when we can safely say he is GOAT
@@IamJacksColon4 I know there are talks about that, but as far as I know not decided yet. It it happens, that will be criminal. They are adding sports like surfing and skateboard, but banning weightlifting? That's bullshit, but I understand that it might happen, because they almost banned classic wrestling a sport that was even part of the actual ancient Greek Olympics.
I believe he was the greatest talent the sport has ever seen. To be that dominant to be comparable to lifters of the drug assisted era with drastically shorter training history in a far inferior system to the Soviet and Bulgarian systems of the 80’s must mean he had the most talent of all time.
Don't kid yourself. I don't know if Tommy took performance enhancing drugs during his reign, but they were around, including dianabol. Later on, drug use became more widespread and sophisticated.
Hi Garage Strength .I lived at a street in Hawthorn Melb ALSTRALIA and at the end of the steet was a resception venue . Must of been 1988 ,Niam deflected to turky right down my street . When I was 15 years old ,60 kg Icould power clean and jerked 100 kg after training by myself without any coach and could snatch 70 kg . I am the same age as Niam . RIP How I loved this man . When he was 15 he jerked 150 kg . thanks for the show ;it was well thought out . All the best from Australia .
Pound for Pound Yurik Vardanyan is the GOAT. In the 1980 Olympics he total 400KG won Gold the 82KG, and would have also won gold IN the 90KG and the 100KG. Its never been done again Current world records total 81KG/ 378kg, 89kg/ 392kg 96kg / 416Kg. Even now Yuriks record of 417kg would hold the 81, 89 and also 96kg Who comes close to him?? No one
@@theaccordian9377 Maybe so, and Naim is rightly one of the greatest ever, but Yurik was not allowed to participate in Olympics after Soviet games (Politics) and his 1980 world record scores would have won him 3 Gold medal in different divisions, that my friend NO ONE has been able to achieve to date.
I am Greek. I cannot think of any athlete that embodied the Olympic spirit quite like Naim. He was a great weightlifter and he was an even greater man. When Naim won that back and forth with Leonidas in Atlanta, his Greek opponent offered his hand and said, "Congratulations Naim, you are the best." The reply shook me and gives insight into the greatness of Naim and of the Turkish spirit. "No, Valerios. I am not the best. We are the best." Perhaps it is a very Turkish quality to be gracious and humble in victory. I was deeply moved by a great athlete's humility. Naim is one of the giants in Olympic history.
How does Lasha get excluded from this list. I think before his career is over and done he will move into second or third all time. He has completely changed the game in the 109+ category. His snatch weight is 9kg more than the next closest human being! (Just shy of 20lbs)…also his top C&J is 267kg! Next closest in history is 264kg. He’s a monster and people speak about his size being his great strength, but to have the level of mobility he has in a 6’6” (1.83m) frame is absolutely ridiculous. His dominance in the 109+kg weight class cannot be overstated.
I remember randomly turning on the TV set to watch the olympics in 1996 and seeing Süleymanoglu’s masterclass in weightlifting and his gold medal win. Hardly ever watched the sport before then. Incredible.
Lasha cannot be on this list because he is way above it already. No human in the history of the sport was able to achieve his monstrous total of 484kg. As an example, the snatch over 215kg was lifted 11 times in history, 9 out of those by Lasha. If it wasn't for pandemic he already would have racked up another Olympic gold, the World and Euro.
In my humble opinion Lasha is a talented lifter. He's done things nobody else has ever achieved in the superheavyweight class. On the other hand, it's a bit early to declare him the greatest of all time, don't you think? Putting him over names like Alexeev, Taranenko, Kurlovich, Pisarenko, Krastev, Welker, Chemerkin, Botev, Marchokov and so on... What's the point of that? Lasha had no serious competition to face since the Rio Olympics. As for that list, in my humble opinion its value is questionable at best. It is that way because many talented lifters are missing. Where are the Soviet and Bulgarian lifters of the 1970s? The lifters of the 1960s? Not a single Bulgarian lifter of the 1980s. Except for Naim of course. Do not neglect the Soviet and Bulgarian weightlifting teams of the 1980s. Back then there was real competition in the different weight classes. The only unbeatable man was the late Naim Suleimanoglu. Speaking of interesting weightlifting in the superheavyweight class, have in mind the following. 1987 World Championships. 1996 Olympics. 1999 World championships. 2000 Olympics. 2008 Olympics. Making such a list is a waste of time because all the lifters of the past and the present have grown in quite different conditions. The rules have even changed. List of banned substances. Of this particular list one thing is for certain. Halil Mutlu and Naim Suleimanoglu are, two legends of the sport, have become what they are today thanks to the Bulgarian specialists and mostly Ivan Abadzhiev and Enver Turkileri (Tolumov).
I can see why you didn't mention him bc he hasn't won as many Olympic gold medals, yet. But Lasha undoubtedly has to be on this list. The biggest total ever posted, by far. Routinely beats almost every other Olympic gold total in training. Unbeaten since 2015.
just to appreciate Naim vs Lasha, Lasha is 183 kg powerful man, but his clean and jerk record is 267 kg, less than 1.5 times body weight, to achieve what Naim has achieved he has to lift 550 kg clean and jerk, his total is under 500kg, the man said: pound for pound, how much weight each KG of muscle could carry
If Kakhi was ethnically Greek he would have been on the same place as Dimas. Dude won 3 olympic gold medals and 3 world championships as well. With multiple world records..
3 times your own body weight plus 10 kg , Naim belongs on the number one spott and just there. The GOAT. The olympics in 1996 with his greek friend pushing each other for me was the best competion ever.
Weightlifting is all about lifting heavy weights and in a list of the best weightlifters you did not include any heavyweight lifters?!? What about Vasily Alekseyev? Yury Zakharevich? Lasha Talakhadze?...
In the history of the olympics, Pyrros was the most successful with three gold and one bronze. Naim was an athletic monster, naturally gifted. Both gigantic figures in the sport.
Pyrros is Greek. His family was Greek. He was from south Albania or northern hiperus which should be Greek but doesn't. So don't ever say again he is Albanian. In an interview he himself admits that he is absolutely clean Greek guy!
dimas is from the greek village of chimara from greek parents went to greek schooll ,as Naim is Turk born in a foreign land BUT the village Dimas was born in Albania is recognized Greek village by the same treaty that "orders" Albania , unlike Naim;s town which is Bulgarian , so its unfair to say Naim Turkish and Dimas Albanian ... in 2004 he was also injured
Lasha is closest to be like Alekseyev. Sueymanoglu, if I'm not wrong is a first weightlifter who did a weight triple than his own.But Alekseyev has ruled longest.50 years ago was a triathlon in weightlifting , until lifting thrust from chest didn't canceled , So in that time, the best weightlifter ever, made lift of 205 kilos from his shoulders. I have looked t Strongman, and record is 217 kilos. Even today, weightlifters break his record set 40 years ago, not the records of his opponents. Every weightlifter in the royal, super heavyweight category has a picture of Alekseyev and no one else. If we ask - Who is a GOOAT, answer is clear.
Any weightlifting best list has to include Vasily Alekseyev. He is one of the three best of all time along with Naim Süleymanoğlu and now Lasha Talakhadze.
Seems like more of a nostalgia list, though still good, and it’s it’s hard to argue with the top 2. However, If Lasha & Lu win in Paris I would put them at #1 and #2 respectively.
Which school is the Best?!? Little Bulgaria and Bulgarian Olimpic champions : Galabin Boevski 2000, Borislav Gidikov 1988,Milen Dobrev 2004,Asen Zlatev 1980,Ivan Ivanov 1992,Jordan Bikov 1972,Sevdalin Marinov 1988,Jordan Mitkov 1976,Andon Nikolov 1972,Norair Norikuan 1972,1976,Ianko Rusev 1980. Аs well as many world and european champions, including Naim Suleimanoglu( Bulgaria, Turkey) and Halil Mutlu(Bulgaria, Turkey), all product of Bulgarian school and The Best coach in The World - IVAN ABADZIEV.
Some greeks in the comments got butthurt when you said Pirros was Albanian but you clearly mention that he is of Greek descent so there really was not that big of a problem.
For those who don't know weightlifting, here's how. In the Olympics, the difference between the 1st and the 2nd in weightlifting medals and landings is usually half a kilo, 2 kilos. A very high-level weightlifter, without knowing it, can score a 5 kilo difference to his second-ranked competitor. Naim outdistanced his competitor by exactly 30 kilos in 1988 Seoul and I don't think there will be more such things in 1000 years. The Olympic Committee (IOC) announced that Naim's record of 342 kg in 60 kg could not be exceeded for another 1000 years, and since most spectators who watched the Olympics wanted to watch the record break, he deleted the 342 kg record in 60 kg and announced that he would not take part in the Olympics in 60 kg again. For this reason, Naim competed in the 1996 Atlanta 64 kg category. Because you don't have 60 kilos anymore. As of 2000, 64 kilos were also removed and 62 kilos were brought. Near the 342.5 kilos Naim lifted in 60 kilos, the most likely name is Korean Kim Un-Guk, who raced at 62 kilos in 2012 London. He was able to lift 327 kilograms. It's both 62 pounds and 15.5 pounds lower. It was such a superhuman lift. Naim 88 was filmed in Seoul in 152.5 kilos snatch and 190 kilos clean and jerk.
In the next 100 years or so, a very long and athletic guy might break Bolt's record of 9.58. But there's no chance that a guy of 60 kgs can lift 190 kgs in c/j forever. Such world records differ from other world records definitely. A third probably unbrrakable world record is Flo Jo's 10.49. Naim and Flo Jo broke these records in the same olympic games (Seoul 88), 35 years ago.
Pyrros Dimas is the best weightlifter of all time by far. Only he could win a medal at an olympic event with the injury problems he had at athens 2004. Only his appearance was such an achievement and he managed to win a medal. Legend
Btw have respect to Kakhi Kakhiashvili as well, he brought 2 olympic gold medals (in total he has 3) to Greece and 3 world Championship gold medals Also...
It was interesting to see who you would pick for 2-6. Great editing and narration, and you make your cases in a comprehensive way. Do I agree with the list? Nah. But you get a like anyway.
I had the pleasure of meeting and spending a couple days with Tommy Kono a few years ago before he passed away. He was a gentleman and a great representative of Olympic Weightlifting. When he lifted I’m not sure you were allowed to brush your thighs. If that’s the case that makes it records even more impressive.
You could brush the thighs but not bounce the bar off them as some lifters did later on. Also, back in the day, judging wasn't as strict when it came to the snatch and clean and jerk. Today, a millimeter or two of "press out" and the lift is turned down.
they were turkish natives, and Bulgaria couldnt appreciate them so they fled to their home country where they were paid proper attention and became stars, if only more athletes fled Bulgaria at that time,,, maybe we missed on few more legends
Fun fact. First 4 male who won 3 consecutive Olympic gold medals (there is only 5 men) are Naim Süleymanoğlu Bulgaria born Turkish, Halil Mutlu Bulgaria born Turkish, Khaki Khakiashvili Georgia Born Greek, Pyrros Dymas Albania born Greek.
Interesting how most of the elite weightlifters are from nearby region (east balkan, anatolia and caucasus) makes me think the food and nutrients from that area plays a role aswell
Just watched your video about Ilya, you said that he can't be considered because he took PEDs, yet every single person you list here almost certainly also took PEDs. They just didn't get caught. Had Ilya not been caught you'd have put him on this list without a doubt.
Piros is 100% Greek north ipiros in today’s Albania is a Greek land he’s parents are Greek he’s village is Greek . In second war world we lost this land and Albanians took it so the Greeks are in Albania as natives minority.
Βασικα ειναι μισος-μισος αλλα αυτο δεν το λενε ουτε οι αλβανοι αλλα ουτε και οι Ελληνες. Βεβαια οταν πηγε με το ΠΑΣΟΚ τα ξεπερασε ολα αυτα. Τωρα ειναι πολιτης του κοσμου ;)
Fun fact. During 1980 Moscow olympics there wasn't any doping tests for weightifting. Still today Moscow olympics are only olympics with zero doping violations.
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An additional fact: Leonidas has great respect for Naim and he came to Turkey to attend Naim Süleymanoglu's funeral. Huge respect for Leonidas as well.
What are you talking about? I did not
Great Respect for that athlete.
I'm Greek and I vote for Naim.
R. I. P. 🇬🇷
@@leonidas3127 :) man you made me laugh :)))))))
Leonidis Valerios was the one you talking about and was his biggest competitor
They were also friends.
Naim is an absolute GOAT. Its hard to believe what he achieved in the sport. 1988 Seul Olympiad performance still remains the scariest of all time. What a great legend, what a man…..
Valerios Leonidas at 64 almost defeated Naim, and Leonidas was five inches taller---less muscle per inch of height. Leonidas impresses me MORE!
A guy from Turkiye here. Having met Naim and talked to him, I agree. He was supremely talented from a very young age, far more talented than any other weightlifter. And he was at his prime already at the age of 20. But, he did not fully preserve that top performance, maybe to a certain extent upto 1996. I agree that Leonidas made great improvement over time and was almost as good as Naim in 1996. And in 2000, don't forget Peshalov. Both of these guys were far behind Naim in 1992 Barcelona. They caught him and then in 2000... Naim was smoking in February 2000 before the olympiads in Sydney. Finally, the common point of all these guys is that compared to today's weightlifters, they were far better, and they were also very humble.
Naim was one in a billion. There will not be anyone like him in this sport again. RIP
TRUE 🐐🐐
More like one in a Trillion. Not to mention youngest ever to hold the world record for adult males, not to mention 1984 Friendship games Gold which Soviet bloke boycoutted. And what they lifted made 1984 Los Angeles like training.
One in a billion is quite an understatement...more like one in 500 billion or trillion.
If Lasha ever hits 500 he'll surpass Naim in Sinclair.
@@kblkbl he hit 495 in training 😳 he’s close!
After Naim broke all the records, the categories in which Naim competed were cancelled. Because they know that it is no longer possible to break a new record in that weight.
Exactly. Honestly quite disgusting how they changed it with Soviet athletes and then Naim...
The record's category that is 6kg heavier still has lower records than Naim.
Naim is "pound for pound" the strongest human to have ever lived.
Mark Henry 👍
Absolutely. In relation to body weight he is more than twice stronger than the second one.
No he is not. It's not impressive when you are the size of a teenage girl, lifting very mediocre weights.
The pocket Hercules ?
@@janoycresnova9156 Go and lift triple your own bodyweight if you can, dumbass, making stupid comments on TH-cam is not like lifting on the field.
Just to show how insane Naim's 1988 performance was, he won the gold in 60kg category with a total of 342.5kg (152.5kg+190kg). In the next weight division (67.5kg), Joachim Kunz won the gold with a total of 340kg (150kg+190kg). So, Naim could have competed in the 67.5kg body weight division and still won the gold. As far as I know, Naim is the only weightlifter to achieve this in an Olympic competition.
no, there are several others. The most striking one is Yurik Vardanyan who won with 400kg at 82kg - he would have won also the 90 and 100kg - that's mind blowing.
Did you not watch the video?
Thank you for sharing that is inhuman.
@@ikipemiko That is why Yurik is the GOAT, his 1980 world records would have won him 3 Gold medals in 3 different weight divisions 82Kg, 90Kg and 100Kg. It has never been achieved since.
@@vanS808 There wasn't any doping tests for weightlifting in 1980 Moscow olympics.
Naim would've also had another Olympic gold in 84 if not for the boycott. Truly the GOAT!
VERY TRUE 💪
I’m turkish naim’s biggest fan
And if he hadn't shot for a world-record out the gate in Sydney, he could have had another one. It's reasonable to speculate about him getting five Olympic gold medals.
Since you know Dimas in person, please don't tell him that he's an Albanian. He is a Greek born and raised in Albania and later on moved in Greece; just like many Turks born and raised in Bulgaria. The situation in the Balkans was a bit more complicated back in these days.
Yes I understand the sensitivity of the issue. He is DEFINITELY GREEK and is a phenomenal representative of his country and a very cool guy to work with 💪
@@GarageStrength he is albanian he declare declared himself greek becouse of documents that time ..
@@labinotberisha310 not even close dude.He was born in voreia hpeiros which is a greek place located in Albania.People from there are greeks who stayed without their will there.You can study little bit more to learn sone things
@@prionimaniac3352 he is Albanian we all know that
@@labinotberisha310 ok whatever you say
Who else was looking for Lasha and Lu
A lot of people 😂
Their careers aren't over so you can't judge them yet
@@bonerici yes you can. Lasha has the highest total in weightlifting that makes him the goat in his class. The fact that he's surpassed everyone thats lifted before him and is still competing confirms that.
@@iswearallthetime Imagine how much Lasha would be able to press if the press hadn't been abolished
Lasha already popped for drugs when he wasn't that good yet, and Lu on drugs too so they'll never make the list like Ilya
Who do YOU think is the GOAT? Comment below 👇👇
Who other than Naim Sueymanoglu. Check 1988 Seol nothing else is even close.
Naim and the others...
Rim Jong-sim is about to win in gold in THREE DIFFERENT WEIGHT CATEGORIES, and I've never seen you mention her not even ONCE in your videos...
Lasha Talakhadze is the GOAT.
Tye best on you list dued of liver failure from roids,lol🖕
Vasili Alexeev
80 World Records
81 Soviet Records
8x World Champion
8x European Champion
2x Olympic Champion
First man to break the 500 lb barrier
Alexeev competed frequently so everybody had a shot at him, yet he still dominated. His 80 world records are true official first time best lifts, not repeats of past lifts. There weren't any weight class changes during his reign. All of his records were in the 110+ kilo class.
Yuri Zaharevich - 41 World Records in 80s. In 110 her results 210 250.
Most of those records were by adding a half kilo at a time, and the "press" was discontinued due to sloppy performances. Pisarenko had far fewer "records" but exceeded Alexeev in both lifts.
@@charlessavoie2367 Yes, that's true. But to continually break records if even by a half kilo is a remarkable feat of consistency. Pisarenko, if he'd had a longer career might have set records even beyond Lasha's capabilities. I saw Pisarenko compete. He was very powerful.
@@charlessavoie2367 Alexeev still took the WR C&J from 220.5 to 256 and total from 600 to 645. Never done before or since.
Yes, he was the greatest.
We do not know how much he was able to lift, because in his peak time no one was close enough to push him to show his real strength.
Süleymanoğlu is the first and only weightlifter to have snatched 2.5 times his body weight
Beat that!!
Also He is the only weightlifter to date to clean and jerk 10 kilos more than triple his bodyweight
THE CHAMP 👑
3x body weight plus 10kg
@@ieod-ri2zp everyone else used/use steroids, till today, if nobody ever used steroids and everyone competed clean, Naim would still be number one, and every current champion would still be a champion
Aloha from Hawaii, Sir: Thank you for sharing the top 6 male world wide Olympic Weightlifters of all the time. I am glad you based on performance on the world and olympic level, and base on "pound for pound" in their respected classes. It nice you have included Tommy Kono from Hawaii on your list, and the only American to excel in his time. I had the pleasure to have Tomny Kono train in those hay days, and the endless stories and inspirations he shared with us. Aloha and Take Care!
I am Bulgarian, the reason there were so many good weightlifters coming from Bulgaria in the past was that we had a very good weightlifschool headed by the coach Ivan Abadzhiev. He trained both Naim Suleymanoglu (Наим Сюлейманоглу) and Halil Mutlu (Халил Мутлу), as well as other Bulgarian weightlifters - Norair Nurikyan, Yordan Bikov, Andon Nikolov, Yanko Rusev, Asen Zlatev who won gold at the Olympics. Also at the time the socialist one party state invested lots of money in sport and encouraged participation in sport at all levels.
"No matter how many drugs you feed a mule, it won't become a horse" -- Pyrros Dimas
Naim had god like power. Unmatched.
And don't forget Naim would have won 4 Gold medals, had Bulgaria not joined in a boycott by the Eastern Bloc in 1984 Olympic games.
👆👆👆
Leave it to petty politicians to ruin what athletes trained for years to accomplish. Jimmy Carter did it in 1980 after the Russian excursion into Afghanistan. Then, in 1984, the Soviets and the Warsaw Pact did it to "get even" with the American boycott.
My fav is Pyrros but Naim was truly amazing also!
Shamelessly Greek
@@Chillsies dimas is so much better then that little naim lol greece is always number 1
If Lasha lifts 500kg in total, he is in par with Naim in GOAT conversation.
Lasha's bodyweight multiplied by 3 or up. Until then, one can only dream to reach the G.O.A.T.
@@bonesh0ckerz I see what you`re saying. But it is more complicated than that. Please check how Sinclair Coefficient is calculated in weight-lifting, then you will understand what I`m saying
@@ERIC-oq9or I think Naim is a bit ahead but I am Turkish so I can't be that much objective but still Lasha was a ROCK too
I remember watching Pocket Hercules lift on TV live. the way he would Breathe just before he would lift. unreal power
Nice video and thank you. But not one mention to Vasily Alekseyev?? The man who set up the world record something like 80 times? I think he should be in that list.
Halil and Naim, pure power of Rhodopa mountain
Great video, thanks you! Greetings from Turkey
Thanks for watching!
Thank you bro ..Nice Video 👍Naim is the best ..There will never again be an exceptional athlete like him💪
Dimas May have won more medals But you need to understand that Naim Retired a few times during his career and was begged to come back. He would of won Gold in 1984 if Bulgaria participated and his heart was not in it in 2000 as he got ahead of himself with minimal training and a optimistic snatch weight. He lifted 3x his body weight so many times at 17 years old!. The Man was a legend and I was blessed to meet him as my father was part of the crew In Melbourne who helped him defect to Turkey. Great video .May he rest in peace
Naim was a true legend...May his soul rest in peace..
Lasha didn't make your list, but he is coming for it. He just won his second Olympic title, beating the second place finisher by 47 kilos and breaking all 3 world records in the division(held by himself). I hope he can keep up and go for 4 Olympic titles to make himself the undisputed GOAT of the sport.
Yeah. I'm glad he's not on lists yet because he's not even close to being done. When he hits the mythical 500kg thats when we can safely say he is GOAT
weightlifting has been banned from the olympics
@@IamJacksColon4 I know there are talks about that, but as far as I know not decided yet. It it happens, that will be criminal. They are adding sports like surfing and skateboard, but banning weightlifting? That's bullshit, but I understand that it might happen, because they almost banned classic wrestling a sport that was even part of the actual ancient Greek Olympics.
@@mishagelenava2962 they are adding events that would give USA gold and take away gold from China thats the point.
I don’t see him surpassing Niam but will be a close second
190 kg CandJ at 60kg body weight woooow mindblowing. This guy was out of this world.
Pyrros is Albanian ?? By two Greek parents ?
Wow number 5 Tommy Kono. That in my book is unreal. No high tech training of any kind and no enhancement drugs !! Now that's the most impressive!!
A TRUE LEGEND!
I believe he was the greatest talent the sport has ever seen. To be that dominant to be comparable to lifters of the drug assisted era with drastically shorter training history in a far inferior system to the Soviet and Bulgarian systems of the 80’s must mean he had the most talent of all time.
Don't kid yourself. I don't know if Tommy took performance enhancing drugs during his reign, but they were around, including dianabol. Later on, drug use became more widespread and sophisticated.
RIP Naim .Legendary athlete!
Caught me off guard with Kono but I’m glad you placed him 🤙🏽
LEGEND
I know this guy shouldnt be on the list but the competitions vs Vasily Alekseyev in the 70s were epic , Gerd Bonk .
Damn, I didn’t know anything about Tommy Kono, even tho I’m Japanese. Thank you for bringing up the legend.
That's awesome! He's a legend, more people need to know about this beast 💪
Living in america doesnt make him american he is 100% japanese genetecly.
Hi Garage Strength .I lived at a street in Hawthorn Melb ALSTRALIA and at the end of the steet was a resception
venue .
Must of been 1988 ,Niam deflected to turky right down my street .
When I was 15 years old ,60 kg Icould power clean and jerked 100 kg after training by myself without any coach and could snatch 70 kg .
I am the same age as Niam . RIP
How I loved this man .
When he was 15 he jerked 150 kg .
thanks for the show ;it was well thought out . All the best from Australia .
Pound for Pound Yurik Vardanyan is the GOAT. In the 1980 Olympics he total 400KG won Gold the 82KG, and would have also won gold IN the 90KG and the 100KG. Its never been done again Current world records total 81KG/ 378kg, 89kg/ 392kg 96kg / 416Kg.
Even now Yuriks record of 417kg would hold the 81, 89 and also 96kg
Who comes close to him?? No one
Naim literally has the objectively higher Sinclair score.
@@theaccordian9377 Maybe so, and Naim is rightly one of the greatest ever, but Yurik was not allowed to participate in Olympics after Soviet games (Politics) and his 1980 world record scores would have won him 3 Gold medal in different divisions, that my friend NO ONE has been able to achieve to date.
I know a person who helped Naim in Bulgaria before the successes.
He says he was good, humble and above all strong as a bull despite his size!
This is one of the best listing I ve ever seen kudos for the effort you ve put on this
What about David Rigert and Vasily Alekseev. These dudes have 60+ world records each.
Exactly!
But great as Alexeev was, most of those WR were only .5 kilo gains. Arguably the the best super considering his length of dominance
Kakhi should be placed higher.
I am Greek. I cannot think of any athlete that embodied the Olympic spirit quite like Naim. He was a great weightlifter and he was an even greater man. When Naim won that back and forth with Leonidas in Atlanta, his Greek opponent offered his hand and said, "Congratulations Naim, you are the best." The reply shook me and gives insight into the greatness of Naim and of the Turkish spirit. "No, Valerios. I am not the best. We are the best." Perhaps it is a very Turkish quality to be gracious and humble in victory. I was deeply moved by a great athlete's humility. Naim is one of the giants in Olympic history.
... And about Ilya Ilyin, Vasily Ivanovich and Yuri Vlasov?
All of them were a great hereos!!!!
Didn't make the cut. It's funny you mention Ilya. We may have to address that in the future 😉
Only girl size guys made the cut. OP has something against heavy weights.
Sorry my friend pyrros dimas isn't Albanian. He is from Chimara.
How does Lasha get excluded from this list. I think before his career is over and done he will move into second or third all time. He has completely changed the game in the 109+ category. His snatch weight is 9kg more than the next closest human being! (Just shy of 20lbs)…also his top C&J is 267kg! Next closest in history is 264kg. He’s a monster and people speak about his size being his great strength, but to have the level of mobility he has in a 6’6” (1.83m) frame is absolutely ridiculous. His dominance in the 109+kg weight class cannot be overstated.
I remember randomly turning on the TV set to watch the olympics in 1996 and seeing Süleymanoglu’s masterclass in weightlifting and his gold medal win. Hardly ever watched the sport before then. Incredible.
I think you have to reconsider your list soon, Lasha is climbing on the top!
Great video ! Greetings from Bulgaria ! R.I.P Naim ;(
And also can anyone argue Naim’s 1988 Seul performance is ”the greatest weight lifting performance of all time”?
I dont see how
Awesome video Whānau! Yup, Lasha and Lu are not finished but will end up there. Rezazedah and Liao Hui would be two notables for me!
Great list 💪 Hope this video was fun for everyone
I was almost sure that Lasha was going to be in the list
Definitely could make the cut in the future, just hasn't been on top long enough in our eyes.
yeah, he's probably already pretty much cemented himself as the greatest super of all time but he just hasn't competed enough to guarantee that.
Lasha cannot be on this list because he is way above it already. No human in the history of the sport was able to achieve his monstrous total of 484kg. As an example, the snatch over 215kg was lifted 11 times in history, 9 out of those by Lasha.
If it wasn't for pandemic he already would have racked up another Olympic gold, the World and Euro.
@@GarageStrength he'll be on top for decades even after he retires
In my humble opinion Lasha is a talented lifter. He's done things nobody else has ever achieved in the superheavyweight class. On the other hand, it's a bit early to declare him the greatest of all time, don't you think? Putting him over names like Alexeev, Taranenko, Kurlovich, Pisarenko, Krastev, Welker, Chemerkin, Botev, Marchokov and so on... What's the point of that? Lasha had no serious competition to face since the Rio Olympics. As for that list, in my humble opinion its value is questionable at best. It is that way because many talented lifters are missing. Where are the Soviet and Bulgarian lifters of the 1970s? The lifters of the 1960s? Not a single Bulgarian lifter of the 1980s. Except for Naim of course. Do not neglect the Soviet and Bulgarian weightlifting teams of the 1980s. Back then there was real competition in the different weight classes. The only unbeatable man was the late Naim Suleimanoglu. Speaking of interesting weightlifting in the superheavyweight class, have in mind the following. 1987 World Championships. 1996 Olympics. 1999 World championships. 2000 Olympics. 2008 Olympics. Making such a list is a waste of time because all the lifters of the past and the present have grown in quite different conditions. The rules have even changed. List of banned substances. Of this particular list one thing is for certain. Halil Mutlu and Naim Suleimanoglu are, two legends of the sport, have become what they are today thanks to the Bulgarian specialists and mostly Ivan Abadzhiev and Enver Turkileri (Tolumov).
GREAT list. Good on you.
Best channel for providing an insight into weightlifting
All in Greece we are proud for Pyrros Dimas
I can see why you didn't mention him bc he hasn't won as many Olympic gold medals, yet. But Lasha undoubtedly has to be on this list. The biggest total ever posted, by far. Routinely beats almost every other Olympic gold total in training. Unbeaten since 2015.
just to appreciate Naim vs Lasha, Lasha is 183 kg powerful man, but his clean and jerk record is 267 kg, less than 1.5 times body weight, to achieve what Naim has achieved he has to lift 550 kg clean and jerk, his total is under 500kg, the man said: pound for pound, how much weight each KG of muscle could carry
Only in retrospect. This video was made before Lasha's 225kg snatch, 492kg total.
If Kakhi was ethnically Greek he would have been on the same place as Dimas. Dude won 3 olympic gold medals and 3 world championships as well. With multiple world records..
He was half Greek
His mother is Greek. So i really dont get how he was not more well known.
@@azor8435 that’s not true my friend
@@sakispdsw not true
@@basketballgsl211 Why is it not true? A simple google search says so. Why should i trust you instead of wikipedia?
Excellent analysis
3 times your own body weight plus 10 kg , Naim belongs on the number one spott and just there. The GOAT. The olympics in 1996 with his greek friend pushing each other for me was the best competion ever.
PYRROS DHMAS 3 GOLDEN AND 1 BRONZE.....SIMPLY THE BEST OF ALL.....
Thanks for your passion
Thanks for video my friend. If Yuri participated at 1976 and 1984 Olympics, he would have won definately. Unfortunately politics spoiled everything.
No one would even think of lifting the weights Yurik Vardanian did at 82kg bodyweight. He still is the best in his category.
Weightlifting is all about lifting heavy weights and in a list of the best weightlifters you did not include any heavyweight lifters?!? What about Vasily Alekseyev? Yury Zakharevich? Lasha Talakhadze?...
Not as accomplished and its a pound for pound sport
In the history of the olympics, Pyrros was the most successful with three gold and one bronze. Naim was an athletic monster, naturally gifted. Both gigantic figures in the sport.
Why not Paul Anderson? He did a 165 pound side lateral!
Pyrros is Greek. His family was Greek. He was from south Albania or northern hiperus which should be Greek but doesn't. So don't ever say again he is Albanian. In an interview he himself admits that he is absolutely clean Greek guy!
Yes , he is an ethnic greek .
Piros Dimas 🇬🇷
Thanks for mentioning Zlatev and Blagoev.
dimas is from the greek village of chimara from greek parents went to greek schooll ,as Naim is Turk born in a foreign land BUT the village Dimas was born in Albania is recognized Greek village by the same treaty that "orders" Albania , unlike Naim;s town which is Bulgarian , so its unfair to say Naim Turkish and Dimas Albanian ... in 2004 he was also injured
thx forr mentioning leonidis , hes weightlifting's Pippen
You are right. İt is interesting those top 3 born in same region. We can say natürel of this lands might helps this great athlethes.
Pyrros Dimas is number 1 of all time. Kahi Kahiasvilli is number 2 of all time.
Or in albania Pirro Dhima, he was born with this name 😀
@@ermalrama7244 he is Greek 100%
@@Filaretiioannis for you greek people all the world is greece, keep dreaming
@@ermalrama7244 not all world.But sure all civilized world.Inside your wet "illyrian" dreams you are something.But it's just dream.
Pocket Hercules Naim Greatest of all time. Legend
Lasha is closest to be like Alekseyev. Sueymanoglu, if I'm not wrong is a first weightlifter who did a weight triple than his own.But Alekseyev has ruled longest.50 years ago was a triathlon in weightlifting , until lifting thrust from chest didn't canceled , So in that time, the best weightlifter ever, made lift of 205 kilos from his shoulders. I have looked t Strongman, and record is 217 kilos. Even today, weightlifters break his record set 40 years ago, not the records of his opponents. Every weightlifter in the royal, super heavyweight category has a picture of Alekseyev and no one else. If we ask - Who is a GOOAT, answer is clear.
Pyrros dimas for sure!!!
Any weightlifting best list has to include Vasily Alekseyev. He is one of the three best of all time along with Naim Süleymanoğlu and now Lasha Talakhadze.
Seems like more of a nostalgia list, though still good, and it’s it’s hard to argue with the top 2. However, If Lasha & Lu win in Paris I would put them at #1 and #2 respectively.
So , greeks and turkish can lift ,we get it!
We are both champs brother
Soviets and Bulgarians actually.
İts more like Turks,greaks and georgians
Pyrros dimas is from greece raised in himara and at 17 year old he returned in greece
You should do a video on the best lifters recently. The sport was much different then but all and all good job!
Thanks for the idea! That's a really good suggestion 💪
Which school is the Best?!? Little Bulgaria and Bulgarian Olimpic champions : Galabin Boevski 2000, Borislav Gidikov 1988,Milen Dobrev 2004,Asen Zlatev 1980,Ivan Ivanov 1992,Jordan Bikov 1972,Sevdalin Marinov 1988,Jordan Mitkov 1976,Andon Nikolov 1972,Norair Norikuan 1972,1976,Ianko Rusev 1980. Аs well as many world and european champions, including Naim Suleimanoglu( Bulgaria, Turkey) and Halil Mutlu(Bulgaria, Turkey), all product of Bulgarian school and The Best coach in The World - IVAN ABADZIEV.
VasiliyAlexeev-80 world records
David Rigert-63 world records
No vasily Alekseyev ? Bad list the first man to clean and jerk 500lbs . Number 1 in my mind
Some greeks in the comments got butthurt when you said Pirros was Albanian but you clearly mention that he is of Greek descent so there really was not that big of a problem.
Enjoyed this, but surprised Ilya Ilyin not on list
We definitely will address that in the future 💪
For those who don't know weightlifting, here's how. In the Olympics, the difference between the 1st and the 2nd in weightlifting medals and landings is usually half a kilo, 2 kilos. A very high-level weightlifter, without knowing it, can score a 5 kilo difference to his second-ranked competitor. Naim outdistanced his competitor by exactly 30 kilos in 1988 Seoul and I don't think there will be more such things in 1000 years. The Olympic Committee (IOC) announced that Naim's record of 342 kg in 60 kg could not be exceeded for another 1000 years, and since most spectators who watched the Olympics wanted to watch the record break, he deleted the 342 kg record in 60 kg and announced that he would not take part in the Olympics in 60 kg again. For this reason, Naim competed in the 1996 Atlanta 64 kg category. Because you don't have 60 kilos anymore.
As of 2000, 64 kilos were also removed and 62 kilos were brought. Near the 342.5 kilos Naim lifted in 60 kilos, the most likely name is Korean Kim Un-Guk, who raced at 62 kilos in 2012 London. He was able to lift 327 kilograms. It's both 62 pounds and 15.5 pounds lower. It was such a superhuman lift. Naim 88 was filmed in Seoul in 152.5 kilos snatch and 190 kilos clean and jerk.
I feel like this video has been done over a hundred times...
And yet I still click on these, expecting a different result each time
In the next 100 years or so, a very long and athletic guy might break Bolt's record of 9.58. But there's no chance that a guy of 60 kgs can lift 190 kgs in c/j forever. Such world records differ from other world records definitely. A third probably unbrrakable world record is Flo Jo's 10.49. Naim and Flo Jo broke these records in the same olympic games (Seoul 88), 35 years ago.
Dimas is indeed real Greek. First of all because he himself says so. Secondly, hisGreek is perfect, he was raised at home in Greek.
Would love to see a list of 7 to 20 greatest of all time! Thanks for this video!
Pyrros Dimas is the best weightlifter of all time by far. Only he could win a medal at an olympic event with the injury problems he had at athens 2004. Only his appearance was such an achievement and he managed to win a medal. Legend
There is no Bulgarian in this list greeks and turks is on top 3 on this list
Lasha is the best guys, let's just aprecciate him
Btw have respect to Kakhi Kakhiashvili as well, he brought 2 olympic gold medals (in total he has 3) to Greece and 3 world Championship gold medals Also...
@Claudio Canavaro he is not 100% Greek don't listen to propaganda left Albania 19 years old
@Claudio Canavaro he isn't gay 😉
It was interesting to see who you would pick for 2-6.
Great editing and narration, and you make your cases in a comprehensive way. Do I agree with the list? Nah. But you get a like anyway.
Whats ur list
I had the pleasure of meeting and spending a couple days with Tommy Kono a few years ago before he passed away. He was a gentleman and a great representative of Olympic Weightlifting. When he lifted I’m not sure you were allowed to brush your thighs. If that’s the case that makes it records even more impressive.
You could brush the thighs but not bounce the bar off them as some lifters did later on. Also, back in the day, judging wasn't as strict when it came to the snatch and clean and jerk. Today, a millimeter or two of "press out" and the lift is turned down.
I just spoke to a coach two days ago and he recommended me Tommy Kono's book.
That's awesome! True legend!
Number 1 and 3 in this video (Naim and Halil) are born and trained in Bulgaria. Small country with great great men.
they were turkish natives, and Bulgaria couldnt appreciate them so they fled to their home country where they were paid proper attention and became stars, if only more athletes fled Bulgaria at that time,,, maybe we missed on few more legends
One clarification:Pyrros Dimas is not an Albanian , he is Greek from North Epirus.
Fun fact. First 4 male who won 3 consecutive Olympic gold medals (there is only 5 men) are Naim Süleymanoğlu Bulgaria born Turkish, Halil Mutlu Bulgaria born Turkish, Khaki Khakiashvili Georgia Born Greek, Pyrros Dymas Albania born Greek.
Interesting how most of the elite weightlifters are from nearby region (east balkan, anatolia and caucasus) makes me think the food and nutrients from that area plays a role aswell
Just watched your video about Ilya, you said that he can't be considered because he took PEDs, yet every single person you list here almost certainly also took PEDs. They just didn't get caught. Had Ilya not been caught you'd have put him on this list without a doubt.
Not Tommy Kono
@@GarageStrength who shouldn't have even been on the list in the first place
1. Clarence Kennedy
2. Clarence0
3. Harry Squatter
4. Clarence
5. Clarence the Vegan Natty
6. Clarence K
I can’t argue with that logic 😂
thank you for introducing tommy kono 😊
Piros is 100% Greek north ipiros in today’s Albania is a Greek land he’s parents are Greek he’s village is Greek . In second war world we lost this land and Albanians took it so the Greeks are in Albania as natives minority.
Βασικα ειναι μισος-μισος αλλα αυτο δεν το λενε ουτε οι αλβανοι αλλα ουτε και οι Ελληνες. Βεβαια οταν πηγε με το ΠΑΣΟΚ τα ξεπερασε ολα αυτα. Τωρα ειναι πολιτης του κοσμου ;)
There's an excellent movie made about Naim called "Pocket Hercules". His strength was a gift from God.
Fun fact. During 1980 Moscow olympics there wasn't any doping tests for weightifting. Still today Moscow olympics are only olympics with zero doping violations.