Rafael Chimishkyan (USSR, Georgia): Leningrad, 1985
The History in Color series features a color version of the portrait of Olympic chamion Rafael Chimishkyan of Team USSR and Team Georgia.
In my point of view, Rafael Chimishkyan is one of the most charismatic weightlifters in the history of this sport. Even the early official passport or “hang it on the wall in your office” like portraits couldn’t hide his charisma and personality.
At 23, Rafael Chimishkyan became the second Soviet Olympic champion when he won a gold medal at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki. He went to Helsinki as a young back up featherweight lifter and came back to his hometown Tbilisi, Georgia as a national celebrity. He was the first Georgian to win the Olympics in weightlifting. He was the first Armenian to become a weightlifting Olympic champion too.
The original photo was made during the celebration of the 100th Anniversary of Olympic weightlifting in Russia. Chimishkyan was 56 on the photo.Today, Rafael Chimishkyan is 89. He is still active, has a great sense of humor and very charismatic.
Time didn’t change Rafael Chimishkyan, a true champion and legend of Olympic weightlifting.
Rafael Chimishkyan (b. 1929) competed in the 60kg class for Tbilisi, Georgia.
He was the second Soviet Olympic champion in weightlifting and the first Georgian champion of the Summer Olympics. It all happened on July 25, 1952 at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki. 23-year old Chimishkyan lifted the new world record in total 337.5kg and won a gold medal in the 60kg class. Needless to say, Chimishlyan victory was rather a surprise. He was considered a back-up to a more solid and experienced Nilolay Saxonov on the Team USSR Weightlifting but Chimishkyan was truly brilliant in Helsinki.
In his career, Chimishkyan had 2 golds and 2 silvers at the World championships, 5 gold and 1 siver medals at the European championships, 5 gold, 5 silver and 3 broze medals at the USSR Championships.
Rafael Chimishkyan also set 10 world records.