Tommy Kono was a Japanese American weightlifter who competed in the 1952 Summer Olympics, the 1956 Summer Olympics, and the 1960 Summer Olympics. He won two gold medals and set seven world records in weightlifting. Born in Sacramento, California, Kono began weightlifting while interning at Manzanar during World War II. In 1952, he became the first Asian American to win an Olympic gold medal in weightlifting. He went on to win gold again at the 1956 Games and set seven world records between 1953 and 1959. After retiring from competition, Kono became a successful coach, training Olympic and world champions.
Tommy Kono’s Early Life
Tommy Kono was born in Sacramento, California, in 1930. His parents were immigrants from Japan. Kono began lifting weights as a teenager and soon developed into one of the top weightlifters in the United States. He won the gold medal in the lightweight class at the 1952 Summer Olympics and competed at the 1956 and 1960 Games. Kono retired from competition in 1963 and became a successful coach, helping to train several Olympic medalists.
Tommy Kono’s Weightlifting Career
Tommy Kono was a Japanese American weightlifter who had an illustrious career. He was born in 1930 in Sacramento, California, and began lifting weights as a teenager. Kono won his first national title in 1950 and went on to win eight more between 1951 and 1955. He also set world records in the clean and jerk and the total (snatch and clean and jerk combined) three times each.
Kono’s most impressive feat came at the 1956 Olympic Games in Melbourne, Australia, where he won the gold medal in the lightweight division (the first Japanese American to win an Olympic gold medal). Kono’s performance was remarkable because he had competed with a broken wrist!
After retiring from the competition, Kono became a successful coach, helping several athletes win Olympic medals. He was inducted into the International Weightlifting Federation Hall of Fame in 1999.
Tommy Kono’s Post-Weightlifting Career
Tommy Kono’s post-weightlifting career was just as successful as his weightlifting career. He became a successful businessman and owned several businesses, including a barber shop, a Hawaiian restaurant, and a sporting goods store. He became involved in politics and was elected to the Hawaii State Legislature. Kono continued to stay active in the weightlifting community and was inducted into the USA Weightlifting Hall of Fame in 1999.
Tommy Kono’s Legacy
Tommy Kono’s legacy is one of determination, perseverance, and success.
As a young man, Tommy Kono faced many challenges. He was born in Hawaii to Japanese immigrant parents and was raised in California during the Great Depression. Despite these hardships, he excelled in school and earned a degree in physical education from the University of California at Berkeley.
During World War II, Kono was interned with other Japanese Americans at the Manzanar War Relocation Center. He began lifting weights and honing his skills as a weightlifter here. After the war, Kono moved to San Francisco, where he opened a successful weightlifting gym. He also competed in numerous national and international competitions, winning multiple medals.
Kono’s accomplishments as a weightlifter are impressive, but his commitment to helping others truly sets him apart. He has worked tirelessly to promote weightlifting as a positive activity for young people, regardless of their background or circumstances. His legacy continues to inspire athletes of all ages around the world.
Conclusion
Tommy Kono was a Japanese American weightlifter who became one of the most successful athletes in his sport. He is credited with popularizing the “Kono” grip, which is still used by many lifters today. Kono retired from competition in 1966 but remained active in the sport as a coach and administrator. He died in 2016 at the age of 85.
