Weightlifting legend Süleymanoğlu stable
Güncelleme Tarihi:
Hürriyet Daily News
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Mayıs 02, 2009 00:00
ISTANBUL - Olympic gold medalist weightlifter Naim Süleymanoğlu was in stable condition Friday after spending a night in an intensive care unit.
Süleymanoğlu was taken to Bakırköy Dr. Sadi Konuk Hospital on Thursday after having a seizure from a high fever. The hospital’s vice chief of medicine, Dr. İbrahim Morgül, said Süleymanoğlu was in stable condition, but more tests were needed before making a diagnosis about the 42-year-old iron pumper.
"We have yet to know if the problem is about the brain, the lungs or diabetes," said Morgül. "We have taken care of his seizures and he is stabilized. But we will only understand more about his situation after more tests."
Turkish Weightlifting Federation chairman Hasan Akkuş visited Süleymanoğlu in his room and said the athlete’s condition did not look bad. "He is not very well, but not bad at all," said Akkuş. "I talked with him, and he said ’We will get over this,’ to me." One of the greatest weightlifters in the sport’s history, Süleymanoğlu is a three-time Olympic winner, earning gold medals in the Seoul 1988, Barcelona 1992 and Atlanta 1996 games.
Born in Bulgaria of Turkish descent, Süleymanoğlu was brought to Turkey in 1986 with the efforts of then Prime Minister Turgut Özal, who agreed to pay $1 million to the Bulgarian government to allow the weightlifter to compete for Turkey. Süleymanoğlu paid back by winning Turkey’s first gold medals in 20 years, when he managed to win the gold in Seoul. Süleymanoğlu added seven world and six European championships to his medal cabinet and is often cited as the best weightlifter of the century.
"We have yet to know if the problem is about the brain, the lungs or diabetes," said Morgül. "We have taken care of his seizures and he is stabilized. But we will only understand more about his situation after more tests."
Turkish Weightlifting Federation chairman Hasan Akkuş visited Süleymanoğlu in his room and said the athlete’s condition did not look bad. "He is not very well, but not bad at all," said Akkuş. "I talked with him, and he said ’We will get over this,’ to me." One of the greatest weightlifters in the sport’s history, Süleymanoğlu is a three-time Olympic winner, earning gold medals in the Seoul 1988, Barcelona 1992 and Atlanta 1996 games.
Born in Bulgaria of Turkish descent, Süleymanoğlu was brought to Turkey in 1986 with the efforts of then Prime Minister Turgut Özal, who agreed to pay $1 million to the Bulgarian government to allow the weightlifter to compete for Turkey. Süleymanoğlu paid back by winning Turkey’s first gold medals in 20 years, when he managed to win the gold in Seoul. Süleymanoğlu added seven world and six European championships to his medal cabinet and is often cited as the best weightlifter of the century.