Ireneusz Paliński

Ireneusz Paliński (13 May 1932 – 9 July 2006) was the first Polish weightlifter to win an Olympic gold medal, which he did in 1960. In 1961 he won the middle-heavyweight world title, setting new world records in the clean and jerk and in the total. For these achievements in the same year he was awarded the Order of Polonia Restituta[1] and selected as Polish Sportsperson of the Year. He finished second at the world championships in 1959, 1962–63 and 1966, and third in 1958 and 1964. In total Paliński set six world records in the clean and jerk, which was his favorite event. Domestically he won nine national titles.[2][3]

Ireneusz Paliński
Ireneusz Paliński at the 1964 Olympics
Personal information
Born13 May 1932
Nużewo, Poland
Died9 July 2006
Warsaw, Poland
Height1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)
Weight83–90 kg (183–198 lb)
Sport
SportWeightlifting
ClubGwaria Jelenia Góra
LZS Mazowsze
Medal record
Men’s athletics
Representing  Poland
Event 1st 2nd 3rd
Olympic Games 1 0 1
World Championships 1 4 2
Total 2 4 3
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place1960 Rome-82.5 kg
Bronze medal – third place1964 Tokyo-90 kg
World Championships
Gold medal – first place1961 Vienna-90 kg
Silver medal – second place1959 Warsaw-82.5 kg
Silver medal – second place1962 Budapest-90 kg
Silver medal – second place1963 Stockholm-90 kg
Silver medal – second place1966 East Berlin-90 kg
Bronze medal – third place1958 Stockholm-82.5 kg
Bronze medal – third place1964 Tokyo-90 kg

Paliński was the oldest of seven brothers born into a poor family. He graduated from a technical university and was a wood craftsman by profession. He took weightlifting while serving in the army. In 1965 he married Zofia Drozdowska, a teacher 13 years his junior. They had two sons, Peter and Adam. Paliński became seriously ill in the early 1990s and had several stomach operations. He died on 9 July 2006, aged 74.[1]

References

  1. PALIŃSKI IRENEUSZ (1932–2006). olimpijski.sm.pl (Polish)
  2. Ireneusz Paliński Archived 26 January 2011 at the Wayback Machine. Sports-reference.com
  3. IRENEUSZ PALINSKI. chidlovski.net
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