Sultan Rakhmanov

Sultan Saburovich Rakhmanov (Ukrainian: Султан Сабурович Рахманов; Russian: Султан Сабурович Рахманов) (6 July 1950 – 5 May 2003) was an Olympic weightlifter for the USSR who won the gold medal in the super heavyweight class of the 1980 Summer Olympics.[1] Sultan Rakhmanov won the super heavyweight gold medal in 1980 in Moscow when his legendary teammate Vasily Alexeev was eliminated after he failed three times to snatch 180 kg.[1] Rakhmanov made 6 perfect lifts to score a decisive victory at the 1980 Olympics. He also won gold medals at the World Weightlifting Championships in 1979 and 1980.[1]

Sultan Rakhmanov

Sultan Rakhmanov
Personal information
Full name	Sultan Saburovich Rakhmanov
Nationality	Uzbek
Born	(1950-06-06)6 June 1950 Turtkul, Karakalpak ASSR, Uzbek SSR, Soviet Union
Died	5 May 2003(2003-05-05) (aged 52) Dnipropetrovsk, Ukraine
Height	1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Weight	145 kg (320 lb)
Sport
Country	Soviet Union
Sport	Olympic weightlifting
Event(s)	+ 110 kg
Medal record Olympic Games 1980 Moscow +110 kg World Weightlifting Championships 1978 Gettysburg +110kg 1979 Saloniki +110kg 1980 Moscow +110kg European Weightlifting Championships 1980 Beograd +110kg USSR Weightlifting Championships 1976 Karagenda +110kg 1978 Kiev +110kg 1979 Leningrad +110kg 1981 Novosibirsk +110kg Summer Spartakiad of the USSR 1979 Leningrad +110kg Cup of the USSR 1976 Sverdlovski +110kg Snatch 1981 Donetsk +110kg Snatch

Rakhmanov's father was Uzbek and his mother was Ukrainian, he was born in Uzbekistan.[1] He trained during his weightlifting career in Dnipropetrovsk, Ukraine.[1] Rakhmanov was a member of the Soviet national weightlifting team for 9 years.[1] His most memorable victory was, of course, the super heavyweight class gold medal at the 1980 Olympics. For that victory, Rakhmanov was awarded Order of the Red Banner of Labour in Kremlin.[1]

After his retirement, Rakhmanov was the Chairman of the International Association of Disabled Sports Veterans.[1] Sultan was an honored President of the Aikido Federation of Ukraine. He also was one of the pioneers of organized armwrestling in the Soviet Union.[1]

Rakhmanov died on May 5, 2003 of a heart attack at age 52.[1]

Weightlifting achievements

• Gold medalist 1980 Summer Olympics.[1]
• World Weightlifting Championships gold medalist (1979 and 1980).[1]
• European Weightlifting Championships gold medalist (1980).[1]
• Set two world records during career.[1]

References

1. "Sultan Rakhmanov". Retrieved May 21, 2011.