IWF120y/74 – 1972: Olympic title crowns a superb career for Imre Foldi (HUN)

Born in May 1938, Imre Foldi had a challenging childhood and teenage years, but became the greatest-ever Hungarian weightlifter and arguably one of the best in our sports’ history. Having lost his mother during World War II, he works as a miner and his extraordinary strength is quickly noticed. He then starts practicing weightlifting and thanks to his coach’s intervention, he is not allowed to work underground in order to prevent any possible accident. In 1957, he wins his first national title, and two years later he makes his appearance at the highest level, at the World Championships, where he clinches a bronze medal in the 56kg category. It’s the beginning of an outstanding career, until his retirement in 1977 and his participation in five Olympic Games. He is the first lifter in history to achieve this feat. It all starts in 1960 (Rome), where he is sixth. In Tokyo 1964, he gets the silver, a performance that he replicates in Mexico 1968 (only losing the gold because of his body weight, 300 grams heavier than the winner, with the same Total of 367.5kg). At the 1972 Munich Games, he ultimately earns his only Olympic gold, in 127.5-107.5-142.5-377.5. Finally, in Montreal 1976, he concludes his Olympic career, also with a sixth position. Out of his nine presences at World Championships (besides the Games, counting as such at the time), he gets another six additional medals, including one gold (in 1965), three silver, and two bronze. A specialist in the (extinct) Press movement, he set 15 World Records in this lift (with a best of 137.5kg) and six additional global marks in Total (with three movements). After his retirement, he was a successful coach, namely for his daughter Csilla, a European champion. Foldi passed away in April 2017, aged 78.