POWERLIFTING: Naim Suleymanoglu may only be 1.47 m tall, but he was the most noticeable character in the RDS Concert Hall yesterday as the former powerlifting great played to the crowd right on the cue of MC Richard Herrick.
The already electric atmosphere of this compact arena reached a new decibel when Herrick, a former master competitor himself, announced the presence of his "old friend and now successful businessman".
When it comes to powerlifting no-one can compare with the career record of the Turkish pocket-rocket, who defected from Bulgaria in 1986. The treble Olympic gold medalist and seven-time World champion was presenting medals and participation ribbons yesterday. Suleymanoglu is only 35 yet he has competed at four Olympics stretching back to the Seoul Games in 1988.
Four gold medals were up for grabs in two different weight classes with Sergi Ishaniyazov from Turkmenistan, Yunies Napoles Ramos from Cuba and US lifters Victor Yarnell (Mid-Atlantic) and Reuban Johnson (North-Central) of the US team claiming the top spots.
:quality(70)/s3.amazonaws.com/arc-authors/irishtimes/d556e13a-143b-4b6b-a708-378fafc6c2ed.png)