Kangasniemi turned 76!
Kaarlo Olavi Kangasniemi is the first and only Olympic Champion weightlifter from Finland and he turned 76 this weekend! He reached the peak of his career in Mexico City at the 1968 Olympic Games when he won with a Total of 517,5 kg (still three lifts to be performed at that time) in the men’s 90 kg bodyweight category. He was also Gold Medallist in Warsaw, Poland in 1969, two times European Champion; only to mention his biggest achievements.
Additionally he set multiple word records; four times in the press, seven times in snatch and five times in the clean and jerk, altogether 16 between 1968 and 1972.
In 1969 he received the Best Lifter title and in 1998 he became Member of the IWF Weightlifting Hall of Fame. He also worked as coach and was Eurosport commentator.