Tommy Kono is most decorated American weightlifter in the history of the sport. Between 1952 and 1960, Kono won 2 Olympic gold medals, an Olympic silver medal, and 6 World Championship titles. Kono also won several body building competitions including the Mr. Universe and Mr. World titles. Kono made the cover of several muscle magazine and weightlifting publications becoming a “rock star” in the sport— garnering the attention of athletes like Arnold Schwarzenegger.
OLYMPIC GAMES:
1952 Gold Medal Helsinki, Finland
1956 Gold Medal Melbourne, Australia
1960 Silver Medal Rome, Italy
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS:
1953 Gold Medal Stockholm, Sweden
1954 Gold Medal Vienna, Austria
1955 Gold Medal Munich, Germany
1957 Gold Medal Teheran, Iran
1958 Gold Medal Stockholm, Sweden
1959 Gold Medal Warsaw, Poland
BODY BUILDING TITLES:
1954 Mr. World Roubaix, France
1955 Mr. Universe Munich, Germany
1957 Mr. Universe Teheran, Iran
1961 Mr. Universe Vienna, Austria
OLYMPIC GAMES:
1952 Gold Medal Helsinki, Finland
1956 Gold Medal Melbourne, Australia
1960 Silver Medal Rome, Italy
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS:
1953 Gold Medal Stockholm, Sweden
1954 Gold Medal Vienna, Austria
1955 Gold Medal Munich, Germany
1957 Gold Medal Teheran, Iran
1958 Gold Medal Stockholm, Sweden
1959 Gold Medal Warsaw, Poland
BODY BUILDING TITLES:
1954 Mr. World Roubaix, France
1955 Mr. Universe Munich, Germany
1957 Mr. Universe Teheran, Iran
1961 Mr. Universe Vienna, Austria