Tommy Kono facts for kids
Kono in 2015
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| Birth name | Tamio Kono | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | June 27, 1930 Sacramento, California, U.S. |
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| Died | April 24, 2016 (aged 85) Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S. |
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| Height | 167 cm | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 67-81 kg | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Country | United States | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Olympic weightlifting | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Event(s) | Clean and press Clean and jerk Snatch |
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| Turned pro | 1952 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Retired | 1964 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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Tamio "Tommy" Kono (June 27, 1930 – April 24, 2016) was an amazing Japanese American weightlifter. He was active in the 1950s and 1960s. Tommy Kono set many world records. He achieved these records in four different weight classes. These classes included lightweight, middleweight, light-heavyweight, and middle-heavyweight.
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Tommy Kono's Early Life
Tommy Kono was born in Sacramento, California, on June 27, 1930. His family was of Japanese background. During World War II, his family was moved to a special camp. This was the Tule Lake internment camp in 1942.
How Weightlifting Started for Tommy
As a child, Tommy was often sick with asthma. The dry air at the camp helped him feel better. It was at this camp that he first learned about Olympic weightlifting. His neighbors, including Noboru "Dave" Shimoda, taught him. Dave was part of the Tule Lake weightlifting club.
After about three and a half years, his family was allowed to leave. Tommy finished high school in Sacramento. He later worked for the California Department of Motor Vehicles. He also went to Sacramento Junior College.
In 1950, Tommy was called to join the U.S. Army. He was a cook at first. However, army officials soon learned about his amazing talent. They realized he could be an Olympic athlete. So, they kept him in the United States during the Korean War. This allowed him to train for the Olympics.
Tommy Kono's Amazing Career
Tommy Kono was a very successful weightlifter. He won gold medals at the 1952 Summer Olympics and 1956 Summer Olympics. He also won a silver medal at the 1960 Summer Olympics. His coach was Bob Hoffman.
World and Pan American Wins
Kono won the World Weightlifting Championships six times in a row. This was from 1953 to 1959. He was also a champion at the Pan American Games three times. He won in 1955, 1959, and 1963.
A knee injury stopped him from competing in the 1964 Summer Olympics. He retired from the sport the next year. In total, he set 26 world records. He also set seven Olympic records. This makes him the most successful U.S. male weightlifter ever.
Beyond Weightlifting: Bodybuilding and Coaching
Tommy Kono was also a great bodybuilder. He won the Mr. Universe titles in 1954, 1955, 1957, and 1961. After he retired from competing, he became a coach. He coached the Mexican team for the 1968 Summer Olympics. Then he coached the West German team for the 1972 Summer Olympics. Later, he became the head coach for the United States' Olympic weightlifting team at the 1976 Summer Olympics.
During his career in the 1960s, he created special bands. These bands helped support knees during training. Later, these bands were also used for elbows. They became standard equipment for weightlifters. While coaching in West Germany, he worked with Adidas. This led to Adidas making special low-cut weightlifting shoes.
Awards and Honors for Tommy Kono
Tommy Kono received many awards for his achievements. He was an eight-time finalist for the James E. Sullivan Award. This award goes to the best American amateur athlete each year.
Hall of Fame Inductions
In 1978, he was one of the first people in the Hawaii Sports Hall of Fame. He was also inducted into the United States Olympic Hall of Fame in 1990. In 1993, he joined the International Weightlifting Federation Hall of Fame. In 2005, the International Weightlifting Federation called him the "Lifter of the Century."
Tommy Kono in Media
Tommy Kono appeared in a newsreel in 1959. He is also shown in a mural in York, Pennsylvania. This mural was finished in 2000.
His life was featured in a documentary film. It was called "Arnold Knows Me: The Tommy Kono Story". The film came out in the summer of 2016. It was shown on PBS stations across the country.
In 2021, Google Doodle honored Tommy Kono. They created a special drawing on their homepage for his birthday.
Tommy Kono's Passing
Tommy Kono passed away on April 24, 2016. He was in Honolulu, Hawaii. He was 85 years old. He died from problems related to liver disease. He left behind his wife, Florence, and their three children. He also had three grandchildren.
