Charles Vinci

Charles Thomas Vinci Jr. (February 28, 1933 – June 13, 2018) was an American weightlifter and Olympic champion.[2] Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Vinci was the United States Senior National Champion from 1954 to 1956 and from 1958 to 1961. He received silver medals in the 1955 and 1958 world championships. He won gold medals at the 1955 and 1959 Pan American games. He won a gold medal at the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne,[3] with a world-record three-lift (snatch, clean and jerk, overhead press) total of 342.5 kilograms (755.1 lb).[4] Just prior to weighing-in, Vinci was 1.5 pounds overweight. After an hour of running and sweating, he was still seven ounces over the limit, but a severe last-minute haircut saw him make the weight limit.[5] He won gold again at the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome.[6]

Charles Vinci
Charles Vinci
Personal information
Nickname(s)Mighty Mite
Born(1933-02-28)February 28, 1933
Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
DiedJune 13, 2018(2018-06-13) (aged 85)
Elyria, Ohio, U.S.
Height4 ft 11+1⁄2 in (151 cm)[1]
Weight123 lb (56 kg)[1]
Medal record
Men's weightlifting
Representing the  United States
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 1956 Melbourne Bantamweight
Gold medal – first place 1960 Rome Bantamweight
World Championships
Silver medal – second place1955 Munich Bantamweight
Silver medal – second place1958 Stockholm Bantamweight
Pan American Games
Gold medal – first place1955 Mexico City Bantamweight
Gold medal – first place1959 Chicago Bantamweight

During his career, Vinci set 12 world records in the bantamweight class, between 1955 and 1960. He held records in snatch, in clean and jerk and in press, as well as in total (3).

He died in Elyria, Ohio at the age of 85.[2]

References
  1. "Chuck Vinci". sports-reference.com. Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
  2. "Clevelander, Olympian Chuck Vinci passes away at 85". 13 June 2018.
  3. "1956 Summer Olympics – Melbourne, Australia – Weightlifting" Archived 2007-08-27 at the Wayback Machine – databaseOlympics.com (Retrieved on February 20, 2008)
  4. "Charles T. Vinci". britannica.com. Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
  5. Wallechinsky, David (1984). The Complete Book of the Olympics. England: Penguin Books. p. 464. ISBN 0140066322.
  6. "1960 Summer Olympics – Rome, Italy – Weightlifting" Archived 2007-08-30 at the Wayback Machine – databaseOlympics.com (Retrieved on February 20, 2008)
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