Kaarlo Kangasniemi: From October 1966 To October 1968
History in Color:
October 19, 1966, Berlin, East Germany – Finnish light heavyweight Kaarlo Kangasniemi is about ready to start a lift in the 82.5kg class at the 1966 World and European Championships in East Berlin.
Kaarlo Kangasniemi was 25 at the time of the tournament in Berlin. He finished on the 6th place in the 82.5 class with 440kg (147.5+132.5+160) in total.
The next year he moved up to the 90kg weight class and added 32.5kg to his total when he finished 5th at the 1967 Little Olympics in Mexico City with 472.5kg (157.5 + 140 + 175). At the 1968 European Championships in Leningrad, Kaarlo wins a bronze medal with 490kg (160+145+185).
On October 18, 1968, Kaarlo Kangasniemi won a gold medal in the 90kg weight class at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City and became the first athlete in Finland ever to win the Olympics in weightlifting!
His total in Mexico City was 517.5kg (172.5+157.5+187.5).
Did Kaarlo Kangasniemi know in Berlin (on the cover photo) that, in almost exactly 2 years, he will add 77.5kg to his total and will make a history becoming the 1st weightlifter of Finland to win the Olympics?
Perhaps, not.
Still, it’s an amazing story of a 2-year long road to the top goal of any athlete in Olympic weightlifting – to win the Olympics!
