The Life & Training of Naim Süleymanoglu (GOAT of Weightlifting)

This video is a deep dive into one of the greatest athletes of all time. A look at Naim Süleymanoğlu, featuring details of his life, his training, and the 2019 movie about him!
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We look at:
- Naim’s origins as part of the Turkish minority in Bulgaria
- his training schedule under the infamous coach Ivan Abadjiev
- his defection to Turkey,
- and much, much more.
Plus we review the movie that came out about him in 2019, which you can watch on KZbin, Apple TV, and elsewhere depending on your country.
Chapter Markers:
00:00 Intro
02:46 Part I: Childhood in Bulgaria and Start in weightlifting
05:45 Early Competition Results and Training
06:39 Part II: Abadjiev and the Bulgarian System
08:08 School of Champions Documentary
09:13 PEDs?
11:33 Naim's Bulgarian Training
13:17 Teenage Results and Records
14:49 1984 Olympics Soviet Boycott
16:06 US Athletes on the 1980 Boycott
16:44 Naim's Turkish Heritage
18:39 Forced Name Change
19:22 Escape!
20:54 New Country, New Name
22:00 1988 Olympics
23:29 Naim Movie
27:47 Americans Try to Buy Naim?
30:26 The Wrestler and Aging Athletes
30:40 Closing Credits
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Written & perfomed by the one and only Dr Boffa! / dr_boffa
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[@altugdemircan7228]

As a Turk, I feel proud whenever Naim Süleymanoğlu is mentioned.. He is very important for us. For Turkish nation. Rest in peace

[@penchopeev7314]

he is Bulgarian, he was created as a weightlifter in the Bulgarian school! ivan abadjiev is a master of bars!

[@Kuzeybeyful]

he is a legend.

[@gustavhviid4673]

All Things Gym is like Christmas. Only once a year do they send us a present.

[@bmstylee]

Hookgrip is the same.

[@freshmacarons]

My coach talks about Suleymanoglu a lot. Thanks for this! 🙏

[@zombi3lif3]

He should! And you should join him RIP Naim Süleymanoğlu

[@metalcl0ne]

@@zombi3lif3 what????

[@lafargaa]

@@metalcl0ne talking about him? lol

[@metalcl0ne]

@@lafargaa i thought he meant u should join süleymanoğlu(by dying) xD

[@D.-NeverGoBack-]

@@metalcl0ne lol

[@leslieabradshaw]

This was fantastic. Thank you for making it.

[@CaptMeMo_350]

I have been following ATG contents more than 10 years and all are gem. Thanks for great content regarding Naim the legend.

[@domyew]

Amazing content! thank you for putting this out ❤️‍🔥

[@allthingsgym]

Chapter Markers: 00:00 Intro 02:46 Part I: Childhood in Bulgaria and Start in weightlifting 05:45 Early Competition Results and Training 06:39 Part II: Abadjiev and the Bulgarian System 08:08 School of Champions Documentary 09:13 PEDs? 11:33 Naim's Bulgarian Training 13:17 Teenage Results and Records 14:49 1984 Olympics Soviet Boycott 16:06 US Athletes on the 1980 Boycott 16:44 Naim's Turkish Heritage 18:39 Forced Name Change 19:22 Escape! 20:54 New Country, New Name 22:00 1988 Olympics 23:29 Naim Movie 27:47 Americans Try to Buy Naim? 30:26 The Wrestler and Aging Athletes 30:40 Closing Credits

[@gunes706]

He was a legend of our century like Muhammad Ali, Michael Jordan or Ronaldo... rest in peace Naim ❤

[@ZEvenEsh]

Pocket Hercules was an amazing book!!! I did not know they made a documentary on him, I’ll have to look it up and find it, thank you for the awesome video 🏆🏆🏆

[@williamshine1346]

A friend of mine was the NBC announcer for lifting at the 1988 Olympics and the word was that Naim received his total (342.5) in gold from the Turkish government. I had the pleasure of seeing him battle with Leonidas in Atlanta and although this was a great competition he never equaled his peak at Seoul. Another friend was on the U.S. junior world team in Brazil where I thought he was 14 years old not 15. In 1996 a German told me that Naim had a late night talk show similar to the tonight show with Johnny Carson which was shown in Germany because of the large amount of Turks living in Germany.

[@88usa]

😊Just saw this comment. Who was your friend on the 82 USA Jr World/USA National Team? I was on that team in Sao Paulo and got to hang out with the Soviets- Solodov, Kuznietsov, Arsamakov and the Bulgarian Team. Naim, Terziiski, Tuporov, Galabarov. Naim and I traded stuff and I got his National Team shirt for a Rocky 2 motion picture book . We met and talked a few times over the years in the 80s. And you're correct, he was 14 in Brazil. Also met the great Abadjiev.

[@88usa]

Who is your buddy on the 82 USA National Team? I was on that team.

[@markovasil1608]

Awesome documentary ❤️💪

[@jiangshenghai57]

Awesome video!!!

[@LevantamientoValido]

¡Obra maestra! Thanks for sharing all this awesome information. ❤️

[@peterroselli5992]

Very well done Dave!

[@tommymalcom6973]

Great video 👍

[@STPianoPlayer]

There are more feature films about weightlifting. One is “iron games” (“железные игры»), a 1979 Soviet movie about an old and a young weightlifter competing with each other . Another is “heavyweight” (“тяжеловес”), 2017 movie with Lovchev. Lastly, there is also a Chinese movie “love lifting” (高举爱) which is pretty much what it sounds like. The first 2 are available on KZbin, although I don’t think there are translated versions.

[@henk11ful]

Nice movie review

[@bmstylee]

Holy crap ATG lives!!!!!

[@Mr.Ciobanu]

Epic man!

[@richiecramiun]

fantastic 👍🏾

[@donttakeoffense88]

Yoooo it’s lit

[@mertkaptan7718]

as a turkish weightlifting enthusiast, i would like to thank you to tell about our pocket hercules

[@ricardoacevedo1743]

Greaat video

[@peterbussell2187]

Unbelievable Great Story . Triple Weight Lifts are by Definition , Top Level , Exceptional. Attain that Status and You are Possibly exempt from normal Criticism..

[@simesonam7728]

Na suleyman....sir is my inspiration...💪💪💕🏋️🏋️🏋️🏋️🏋️🏋️

[@samgao]

I like how the film doesn't focus on the fact that he was only 4ft 8.5in tall. It briefly mentioned it, but you would only know if you're turkish and know this Pocket Hercules, or if you follow weight lifting.

[@johnrussell519]

Almost choked on my cereal when I saw the disc comparison.

[@analquiz]

Holy moly!

[@es9466]

missed u

[@lifeneverends7068]

🇹🇷🐺🇹🇷Nurlar içinde uyu efsane Naim

[@cengizhanhaddf2386]

incredible power

[@manuelibanez2383]

Una joyita

[@cuongbui9708]

Props for not stepping over the bar.

[@es9466]

yes

[@richardleewz]

I feel like I've seen an ATG video about Naim before... was this released a while back on Patreon or am I tripping 😂

[@allthingsgym]

That's Right! We release videos first on Patreon.

[@shane-irish]

The king

[@babyy6277]

He is unbelievable. He is very handsome btw

[@larryboi2706]

if you do one of these cool long videos about Luis Mosquera I will grant you three wishes or something

[@agamenonporto1333]

Foi recordista no evento(NAIM) Posso enviar a foto ? Para onde? Address?

[@superkazan]

there is a documentery in olympics channel. : "The historic battle for Atlanta weightlifting gold..." This doc. is 5x better than Naim movie.

[@StevenRayW]

Being short-limbed is actually an advantage in weightlifting.

[@ZEvenEsh]

NJ in June? No. July? YES!!!😂😂😂

[@geniemontalvo8932]

👏🏼

[@allthingsgym]

Don't miss 06:39

[@gunawankaka2484]

😍

[@deineMudda150]

🇹🇷🇹🇷🇹🇷

[@32srt32]

Can someone dub some English subtitles on the Pocket Hercules movie! PLEASE!

[@b1leader84]

💪👍

[@victorgallardo9337]

El domino la vestia

[@penchopeev7314]

he is Bulgarian, he was created as a weightlifter in the Bulgarian school! ivan abadjiev is a master of bars!

[@mustafatalhakolbasar4652]

🇹🇷🇹🇷🇹🇷🇹🇷🇹🇷

[@youknowstew]

DEEP DIVE

[@vikaskrishan5098]

1980's Bulgaria... or Jersey in June.... :)

[@danielgoodwin5902]

Is this why Clarence posted his own 190? 🤔

[@agamenonporto1333]

Eu tenho uma foto com ele(NAIM) EM São Paulo-BRASIL - 1982 - 1° CAMPEONATO MUNDIAL (14 a 20 anos) Júnior- para onde ENVIAREI? Endereço?

[@edgarespinoza9201]

👍

[@chrislaverick6413]

I feel like lasha is one or two amazing performances away from being the goat, and if he totals 500 then it will be indisputable

[@agamenonporto1333]

Naim com 14 anos e levantou 140 kg no Clean/jeck

[@user-ej7sn4st1p]

Naim has lifted more tan triple body weight more than 20 times in competitions Only! The only person to snach more than 2.5 times body weight! Nobody has ever mach that!😮😊

[@user-xr2jl6ih2l]

Its no true ...The first man hoo lifted 3 times body weigt its STEFAN TOPUROV from Bulgaria...60kg 180 c&j... whatever Bulgarian lifters its the best...

[@Skjorrious]

Your eastern-european cosplay is so good I'm beginning to think that's what you actually look like.

[@adriangriffiths4750]

Hercules!!!!

[@G3Number]

Insta like

[@onurpolat885]

Some classic Turks. Rest in lights🤘

[@burhan.atmaci]

Just a Fun fact. Kırcaali where Naim was Born had produced 7 gold medals 6 Olympic and world records in weightlifting and all were 3 Turks.

[@ozwunder69]

naim wasn't held back in 1983 world championships. The Armenian Soviet had to break the just set 161kg WR by the East German Letz by 4kg (8.8 lbs) in order to win so his brother's claim is total BS

[@Mr.grumpy_man]

I think the movie was very weak. Maybe Hollywood could handle Naim's character more accurately. The actor looked just like Naim. But there had to be good shots for weightlifting, too.

[@nurmuhammettoychyyev4600]

Можно на русском языке?

[@xarisonplay7948]

Russian champions

[@user-eu4dl7jw6g]

Being a native bulgarian i'd like to adress that you are not including all of the historical data regarding the revival process. Although it may have seemed like an extreme measurement, it certainly was not some form of a discrimination against the turkish "minority". If you do a more thorough research of the balkans' past you will find out that when the turks conquered the land in the 14th century, they literally enslaved the natives-bulgarians, serbs, greek, etc. Their tyrannical regime, that is no different that the enslavement of blacks in North America, lasted for almost half a millenium, until the russo-turkish war in 1878-1879, when Bulgaria was oficially reistablished. During the oppression period thins like murder, rape, abduction of male children from their families to train them to fight in the Ottoman army were a part of the everyday life of the bulgarians. So having all the factological data is pretty important when you say that a simple thing like the changing of a person's name, which in many cases were done voluntarily, was an act so harsh, overriding the turkish minority people's rights, when the people from native enslaved nations had the same rights as livestock for centuries.

[@hasanrzayetis1373]

So what happened in the past is an excuse for what you did? Bruh...

[@user-xr2jl6ih2l]

Right Facts....