Dimitrios Tofalos facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Dimitrios Tofalos

Dimitris Tofalos, 1906 gold medalist
Medal record Men's weightlifting Representing  Greece Intercalated Games Gold 1906 Athens Two hand lift

Dimitrios Tofalos (Greek: Δημήτριος Τόφαλος) was a famous Greek weightlifter. He was born in Patras, Greece on April 14, 1884. He passed away on November 15, 1966. Many people believed he was the greatest weightlifter of the early 1900s.

Dimitrios won a gold medal at the 1906 Intercalated Games. He also set a new world record there. This record lasted for eight years, until 1914. Today, a sports arena in Patras is named after him, the Dimitrios Tofalos Arena.

Early Life and Strength

Dimitrios Tofalos showed amazing strength from a very young age. Everyone in his town talked about his physical abilities. He was seen as a child wonder.

When he was young, he had a serious accident near a railway station. A train wagon rolled over him and almost crushed his arm. Doctors thought they would have to remove his arm. But his father did not agree.

Luckily, Dimitrios recovered. However, one of his arms became shorter than the other because of the accident. This physical difference did not stop him. He still became one of the greatest Greek athletes ever.

Winning Gold at the 1906 Games

Dimitrios Tofalos was supposed to compete in the 1904 Summer Olympics. But he got sick and could not go.

Instead, he competed at the 1906 Intercalated Games in Athens. These games were like a special Olympic event. He took part in the two-day weightlifting competition. Athletes had to lift weights with both hands.

On the first day, no one won the gold medal yet. So, on the second day, two strong weightlifters competed for the gold. They were Tofalos and the Austrian giant, Josef Steinbach.

Both athletes easily lifted 136.5 kilograms (about 300 pounds). Then, they had to try lifting 142.5 kilograms (about 314 pounds). Both Tofalos and Steinbach failed on their first try.

But on his third attempt, Tofalos successfully lifted the weight. He broke his own world record! Steinbach tried next, but he failed. He could not even lift the bar off the ground. Tofalos won the gold medal! The fans cheered for him very loudly. His amazing record lasted until 1914.

Life in the USA and Comeback

In 1910, Tofalos moved to the United States. He went there to find work and earn money. He became a professional wrestler. He was known more for his amazing persistence than just his strength.

There is a famous story about Tofalos. He once wrestled the American World Heavyweight Wrestling Champion, Frank Gotch. Gotch was famous for making his opponents give up. But Tofalos refused to quit, even when Gotch used a very strong arm-lock.

His persistence was incredible. It cost Tofalos three months in the hospital. But this event made him even more legendary.

After he stopped wrestling, Tofalos became a manager. He managed Jim Londos, another famous professional wrestler. Londos was very popular during the Great Depression.

Dimitrios Tofalos returned to his hometown of Patras in 1952. He spent the last three years of his life there. In 1995, the city of Patras honored him. They named a new sports arena after him.

Images for kids

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  Dimitrios Tofalos (no. 700) behind Steinbach (no. 872) at the 1906 Intercalated Games.

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  Tofalos with his co-athletes of G.E. Patras.

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  Dimitrios Tofalos Arena.