Hafız Süleymanoğlu

Hafız Süleymanoğlu (born January 23, 1967), formerly known as Hafız Süleymanov, is a retired Turkish weightlifter of Azerbaijani origin competing in bantamweight and featherweight divisions. He held world and European champion titles.

Not to be confused with the Turkish weightlifter Naim Süleymanoğlu who defected from Bulgaria.
Hafız Süleymanoğlu
Personal information
Birth nameHafız Süleymanov
NationalityAzerbaijani
Born (1967-01-23) January 23, 1967
Sumqayıt, Azerbaijan SSR
Sport
CountrySoviet Union, Turkey
SportWeightlifting
Event(s)–56 kg, –59 kg and –60 kg
Medal record
Representing  Soviet Union
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 1989 Athens -56 kg
European Championships
Gold medal – first place 1989 Athens -56 kg
Representing  Turkey
World Championships
Silver medal – second place 1993 Melbourne -59 kg
Silver medal – second place 1994 Istanbul -59 kg
Silver medal – second place 1997 Chiang Mai -64 kg
European Championships
Gold medal – first place 1991 Władysławowo -56 kg
Silver medal – second place 1993 Sofia -59 kg
Bronze medal – third place 1995 Warsaw -59 kg
Gold medal – first place 1997 Rijeka -64 kg

Career

He started weightlifting at the age of 15 in Azerbaijan. In 1985, he was admitted to the national team of the Soviet Union. He earned European and world champion titles in juniors category. In 1989, Hafız Süleymanov became world and European champion in seniors category for the Soviet Union.

After his participation at the 1989 World Weightlifting Championships, he defected from the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic and immigrated to Turkey. He earned his first medal for Turkey in gold in the -56 kg snatch division at the 1990 World Weightlifting Championships held in Budapest, Hungary. Unfortunately, he broke his arm during the clean and jerk session. He received various medals in world and European championships, and became twice more European champion, at the 1991 European Weightlifting Championships in Władysławowo, Poland in the -56 kg division and at the 1997 European Weightlifting Championships in Rijeka, Croatia in the -64 kg division.

Hafız Sülemanoğlu participated twice at the Olympics, 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain and 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, USA. He is gold medalist in 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, USA.

At the 1998 World Weightlifting Championships held in Lahti, Finland, he could reach the 9th rank only. As he repeated his unsuccessful competitions at the 1999 European Weightlifting Championships in A Coruña, Spain and at the 1999 World Weightlifting Championships in Athens, Greece, Turkey Weightlifting Federation decided to take him out of the national team. Hafız Süleymanoğlu declared thereupon that he will return to Azerbaijan.[1][2]

Achievements
World Championships
RankDisciplineSnatchClean&JerkTotalPlaceDate
 Silver-56 kg130.0Athens, GRESep 16–23, 1989[3]
 Gold157.5
 Gold287.5
 Gold-56 kg132.5Budapest, HUNNov 10–18, 1990
 Silver-59 kg135.0Melbourne, AUSNov 11-21, 1993[4]
 Silver295.0
 Silver-59 kg135.0Istanbul, TURNov 17-27, 1994[5]
 Silver162.5
 Silver297.5
 Silver-64 kg145.0Chiang Mai, THADec 6-14, 1997[6]
 Silver315.0
European Championships
RankDisciplineSnatchClean&JerkTotalPlaceDate
 Gold-56 kg130.0Athens, GRE1989[7]
 Gold157.5
 Gold287.5
 Gold-56 kg125.0Władysławowo, POL1991[8]
 Gold147.5
 Gold272.5
 Silver-59 kg130.0Sofia, BUL1993[9]
 Silver160.0
 Silver290.0
 Gold-59 kg135.0Warsaw, POL1995[10]
 Bronze162.5
 Bronze297.5
 Gold-64 kg142.5Rijeka, CRO1997[11]
 Gold165.0
 Gold307.5

References
  1. "78. Avrupa Halter Şampiyonası". Türkiye Online (in Turkish). 1999-04-14. Archived from the original on 2011-10-09. Retrieved 2011-11-06.
  2. "Hafız'a boykot". Hürriyet (in Turkish). 1999-11-25. Retrieved 2011-11-06.
  3. "1989 World Weightlifting Championship Result Bantamweight". Chidlovski. Retrieved 2011-11-04.
  4. "1993 World Weightlifting Championship Result Bantamweight". Chidlovski. Retrieved 2011-11-04.
  5. "1994 World Weightlifting Championship Result Bantamweight". Chidlovski. Retrieved 2011-11-04.
  6. "1997 World Weightlifting Championship Result Featherweight". Chidlovski. Retrieved 2011-11-04.
  7. "1989 European Weightlifting Championship Result Bantamweight". Chidlovski. Retrieved 2011-11-04.
  8. "1991 European Weightlifting Championship Result Bantamweight". Chidlovski. Retrieved 2011-11-04.
  9. "1993 European Weightlifting Championship Result Bantamweight". Chidlovski. Retrieved 2011-11-04.
  10. "1995 European Weightlifting Championship Result Bantamweight". Chidlovski. Retrieved 2011-11-04.
  11. "1997 European Weightlifting Championship Result Featherweight". Chidlovski. Retrieved 2011-11-04.
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