Charles Vinci facts for kids
Charles Vinci at first place
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Quick facts for kids Personal information |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Mighty Mite | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | February 28, 1933 Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Died | June 13, 2018 (aged 85) Elyria, Ohio, U.S. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 4 ft 11+1/2 in | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 123 lb | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Medal record
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Charles Thomas Vinci Jr. (born February 28, 1933 – died June 13, 2018) was an American weightlifter. He was a true champion in his sport. Charles Vinci was born in Cleveland, Ohio. He became famous for winning two gold medals at the Olympic Games.
Contents
Who Was Charles Vinci, the Weightlifting Star?
Charles Vinci was a very successful weightlifter. He was known for his amazing strength. Even though he was not very tall, he could lift incredible amounts of weight. This made him a legend in the world of weightlifting.
A "Mighty Mite" in Weightlifting
Charles Vinci was often called "Mighty Mite." This nickname fit him perfectly! He was only about 4 feet 11.5 inches tall. But he weighed around 123 pounds. Despite his small size, he was incredibly strong. He proved that great power can come in a small package.
Olympic Gold Medals
Charles Vinci won two gold medals at the Olympic Games. This is a huge achievement for any athlete.
- In 1956, he competed in the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne. He won a gold medal in the bantamweight category. He even set a new world record! He lifted a total of 342.5 kilograms (about 755 pounds). This total was from three different lifts: the snatch, the clean and jerk, and the overhead press.
- He won another gold medal at the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome. This made him a two-time Olympic champion. Winning two Olympic golds is very rare and shows his dedication.
Other Big Wins
Besides his Olympic success, Charles Vinci also won many other important competitions.
- He won gold medals at the Pan American Games. He took home gold in 1955 in Mexico City. He won again in 1959 in Chicago.
- He also earned silver medals at the World Weightlifting Championships. These were in 1955 in Munich and 1958 in Stockholm. These wins show he was one of the best weightlifters in the world for many years.
