site.btaWeightlifting Legend Naim Suleymanoglu Commemorated in Turkiye

Weightlifting legend Naim Suleymanoglu, who died six years ago this week, is being commemorated with observances across Turkiye on the initiative of civic associations of Bulgarian Turks.

The three-time Olympic champion and seven-time world champion was born in Bulgaria to an ethnic Turkish family. Representing Bulgaria under the name of Naum Shalamanov in the early years of his career, he set several world records and became European champion in 1984. In 1986, he defected to Turkiye, where he was, and still is, regarded as a national hero as he took Turkish weightlifting to unprecedented heights.

A special prayer on the occasion of Suleymanoglu's death anniversary will be held at the Grand Mosque, the largest Muslim house of worship in the city of Bursa, Northwestern Turkiye, which is home to a large community of ethnic Turks from Bulgaria and their descendants. Visitors will be treated to lokma (fried sweet dough balls soaked in syrup). Similar ceremonies will be conducted in seven other mosques in Bursa Province on the initiative of Kestel Municipality and civic associations.

The main highlight of the commemorative programme is a gala at the Cultural Centre of Kestel Municipality. Turkish Weightlifting Federation officials, guests from Bulgaria, town mayors, friends and trainees of Suleymanoglu have been invited to the event.

Kestel Mayor Onder Tanir told a news conference: "It has been six years since we lost Naim Suleymanoglu, the weightlifting star of the world. He left his imprint not only with the records he set but also with his vision to protect Turks from Bulgaria from the Todor Zhivkov regime. We honour him with prayers, profound love, respect and gratitude. May he be remembered forever."